The most gay-friendly ex-mayor of Auckland, Christine Fletcher, has given a tentative endorsement to the incessantly homophobic Auckland mayoral candidate John Banks. Fletcher, who is currently listed as a co-patron of the Gay Auckland Business Association (GABA), is reported as saying that Banks could make a better mayor than the current office-holder, Dick Hubbard. However, she stops short of a ringing endorsement of Banks by casting some doubt on the apparently gentler, softer version of Banks being presented in advance of the September local body elections. "I do believe if John is sincere, then he has better chances of delivering than Hubbard," she is reported as saying in Auckland's Central Leader. Fletcher and Banks both have a history as National Party MPs and Banks was a National Minister of Police. In reply, Banks, known for his repeated attacks and slurs on gays and lesbians during his political and radio talkback careers, reportedly is pleased with the 'endorsement' from Fletcher since "she is highly regarded in the area of arts, culture and the environment." Fletcher was ousted from the Mayoral office in 2001 by Banks, who was in turn ousted by Hubbard. In contrast to the relentlessly homophobic Banks, Hubbard has belied his conservative Christian background by becoming a supporter of gay initiatives and a regular face at major gay events such as the Hero Festival's Big Gay Out. Ref: GayNZ.com; Central Leader; (j)