Thomas Morgan, Wellington City Council Eastern Ward Candidate while pondering a previous election date change is now considering the second Saturday in April as a local government election date and has also considered a four year local council term…

“April provides a better time-frame for the election allowing for most of the campaigning during the end of the summer and once the main summer holiday period has ended.

“It also makes it much easier for everyone to engage with the democratic process with door-knocking more possible in the longer warmer evenings and candidate meetings will be easier for people to get to and attend without the risk of picking up winter illnesses.

“On top of that there would be no pressure to get a new council organised before everyone gets into Christmas and holiday mode allowing better focus on the job and a good long stretch to get some work done.” He said.

And as for a four year ‘quadrennial’ council term…

“With the possible four yearly cycle of central government elections the same time-frame might need to apply with local government as both sets of elections would happen in the same year at some point resulting in considerable democratic activity in one year. A four year local government term could be more useful while councils have their feet firmly under their tables nevertheless a wider debate would be useful to flesh out the idea.” He said.

Morgan realises that any changes will require approval from Parliament and is seeking a view from the minister of local government Simon Watts. In addition he ponders if an April election date might also be useful for central government elections in perhaps 2029 or 2030 if a four year term is in place by then.

More of Morgan’s ideas can be found here: - https://www.facebook.com/VoteThomasMorgan and of course he would rather like the No.1 vote of Wellington’s Eastern Ward residents.

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