OK Len has been a silly boy. He is not the first middle aged man to do something really stupid and he will not be the last. I hope that his family recover and wish them all aroha to deal with a situation that is bad enough when it is private but devastating when it is so public.
I also hope that he rehabilitates himself. A lame duck mayor is the last thing that Auckland needs. He has been able to get this Government to do the right thing even though it does not want to do this and I hope that Len continues with his efforts. Many of us are disturbed at the treatment of MUNZ on the ports of Auckland and insistent that Auckland should impose a living wage, but Len has achieved a great deal of good and it is vital that he continues to do so.
The timing of this announcement and the source are interesting.
As to the source well Cameron is obviously not a catholic. Because otherwise he would realise that he who is not without sin should not cast the first stone. And given that his father was John Pallino’s campaign manager you have to wonder if Cameron just wants to make sure that the truth is out there or if he wants to upset the democratic choice of all of Auckland. I am sure that the latter is his motivation.
Despite their denials I would be astounded if they have not had this information for a while. If outing of the truth is their only motivation then why wait until now?
Instead they release this information in the small window of time between the close of the polls and the announcement of the final result. It is clear from the initial result that Len was going to coast home. Maybe they are hoping that he will resign and they can have a second go at it.
This is hugely distracting. Instead of us having a Mayor forming a Council that will take the City forward we are into a bout of pantie sniffing.
The response of the Council will be interesting. I am sure that the right will stage a Bill Clinton type attempted impeachment process under the Council’s code of conduct for elected members. The trouble is that the code of itself contains no real teeth but I am sure it will be used to at least try and undermine Len’s authority.
Cameron Slater has shown beyond doubt that he is part of the New Zealand version of the Tea Party. Nothing matters but winning. And if you have to trash democratic decisions and the future of the country’s largest city then so be it.
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