Laurence Yule Leadership Welcomed by the Taxpayers' Union

9 MARCH 2017

The Taxpayers’ Union is welcoming Hastings Mayor, and National Party Tukituki candidate, Laurence Yule’s commitment to stand down as Mayor and not have “a bob each way if he did not succeed in his parliamentary ambitions”, as quoted in this morning’s Hawke's Bay Today.

Taxpayers’ Union Executive Director, Jordan Williams, says, “In the same way we called on Phil Goff to stand down as an MP while he campaigned for his new job as Mayor of Auckland, we think it is totally unacceptable for a Mayor to be paid to do that job while spending all of their time campaigning for a new one. We absolutely welcome Mr Yule’s public commitment not to have a ‘bob each way’ or ‘double dip’ in this area. He deserves real credit.”

“Now that we know that Hastings is definitely getting a new Mayor, there is the timing issue of when Mr Yule steps down. We are concerned that there is talk of Mr Yule taking a leave of absence, perhaps donating his salary to charity. Ratepayers are entitled to a Mayor working for them and not on leave campaigning. The start of the official campaign period on 24 June, three months before polling day, seems the sensible date for the resignation to be triggered.”

Earlier today the Auckland Ratepayers’ Alliance (the sister group to the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union) called on National Party candidate Denise Lee to step down from Auckland Council while she campaigns for the Maungakiekie Parliamentary seat.

ENDS

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