National is certain that its candidate Jami-Lee Ross (25)will win the by-election in Botany on March 5 and the youngest would-be Parliamentarian is certain that he would not want to keep his post as a Councillor in Auckland City Council.
Although the Local Electoral Act does not oblige him to resign as a Councillor, allowing him to keep both jobs, Mr Ross has said he would like to concentrate on his career as a Parliamentarian.
He was one of the two winners from the Howick Ward at the local elections held in October 2010. Sharon Stewart was the other successful candidate.
With ambitions in the Party and perhaps the Government, Mr Ross needs to keep a close tab on his electorate and take nothing for granted.
National is assured of victory in the electorate formed just before Election 2008 and there is little to suggest that the voters would stay away from their preferred Party. Many say that Pansy Wong won the seat with a margin of more than 10,000 votes in November 2008, not because of her charisma but because she belonged to National.
“It is one of the safest seats for National,” experts said.
Mr Ross has been in public life for the past seven years. He was elected to the Manukau City Council in 2004 and 2007.
In the event of his resignation from the Council, the choice would be to appoint a person from among the earlier contestants or conduct a by-election.
With the general belief that Mr Ross would win in Botany, many are hopeful of succeeding him at the Auckland Council.
Dick Quax, who lost in the local election last year, said he would consider running for the Ward.
He told Howick & Pakuranga Times that he would discuss with his family and decide about standing again, should there be a by-election.
The former Olympian is a three-term Manukau City Councillor and was the third-highest polling candidate at last October’s elections for Auckland Council, receiving 19,036 votes, the publication said.
“David Collings, who may be an independent candidate in Botany, would consider running for the Council again if he loses in the by-election.
He polled fourth in the Auckland Council election, but managed to secure a seat on the new Howick Local Board.
Labour is fielding Michael Wood as its candidate in Botany, while the Act Party has chosen Manukau District Health Board Member Lyn Murphy.
