A poll last weekend suggested John Banks is ahead in the race to again become Auckland's mayor - but lesbian candidate Lisa Prager isn't phased: "The only poll I believe is the one on 13 October, when the public votes are counted," she declares. The Weekend Herald's poll had Banks on 43.7% support, with sitting mayor Dick Hubbard trailing on 35.2%. Prager says she's done the best job she can at campaigning for the top job, with a limited budget. "I've made my policies as available as I can. It's up to the voters now," she says. "Win, lose or draw, we know we've had a huge impact on the way local politicians are behaving and presenting themselves. Banks is now using words like 'openness, accountability, transparency'. Well, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery - he's stealing my lines." Prager suggests there may be a low voter turnout - reflective of school holiday distractions and "a lack of true media coverage of the issues and the policies of all the candidates. "I'm sure most people have not even opened their voting papers. Everyone should ring around their friends and family and remind them to vote. "This is the most important election in 100 years. If you don't use it, you'll lose it." Voters in local council elections around New Zealand only have until October 10 to post their vote to ensure it arrives in the Electoral Offices in time for counting on Saturday 13 October. Ref: NZ Herald, GayNZ.com (m)
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Wednesday, 3rd October 2007 - 3:52pm