How much is the Huljich Kiwisaver figure-fudging scandal hurting John ‘the dodgy-director’ Banks’ mayoral chances?
Answer: a lot.
Lord Mayor Banks Of Remuera trades on the fact he is a successful businessman. He constantly talks up his strong business credentials as standing him in good stead to lead the new supercity. The Huljich debacle blows that branding out of the water.
It’s starting to seep into mainstream coverage of the election. At the weekend, Fran O’Sullivan confirmed long standing rumours that the far-right is hopelessly divided over its mayoral candidate.
While slagging off other rightwing-political-retreads-of-the-past (Christine Fletcher and George Wood) for wanting to return to the scene, O’Sullivan plumps for failed 1990s National Prime Minister Jenny Shipley. Talk about irony. Not to mention tragic.
She then floats someone called Bridget Liddell who lives in New York City someone who has no local government or political experience and visits New Zealand now and again. Not the person to put a broken city back together again.
O’Sullivan then explicitly writes off Banks saying he’ll lose to Len Brown – and joins the long list of commentators criticizing the Huljich rip-off and noting it has damaged Banks’ chances. In a prior opinion piece O’Sullivan states, ‘Banks’ cavalier approach does not bode well for a politician who is aspiring to lead the new Auckland Council.’ Too right.
Think this story is only getting play in the business pages? It’s not, I floated Banks’ mayoral candidacy with the guy who owns the local petrol station in Takapuna; he said he wasn’t going to vote for someone who’s happy to rip off people’s retirement savings.
Banks’ highly paid image/media management spin team have had a terrible time trying to keep this story under wraps. Have a look at this terrible news piece where One News has to chase Banks out a door to get an answer from him.
John Banks has desperately been trying to fix his image, however the Huljich rip-off story has put pay to those plans. It has simply reinforced why Banks isn’t the right person to lead Auckland and reminded people why they shouldn’t trust him, not to mention destroying his reputation with the business community. This mangy story is going to dog him until election day.
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