Thomas concedes Goff has lock on Auckland mayoralty

Auckland mayoral aspirant Mark Thomas has put out a press release (see raw data below) in which he appears to concede he has no chance of winning the race and says he’s been asked to withdraw his candidacy – but stops short of doing so.

Noting that two polls – including the only public one so far – show long-serving Mt Roskill Labour MP Phil Goff “with a considerable lead,” Mr Thomas says he’s been “considering my position” in the contest on the basis that “a Phil Goff mayoralty would not deliver the new leadership that Auckland needs.”

But the release doesn’t announce his abandonment of the race, and nor does he endorse another right-leaning candidate.

Instead, Mr Thomas suggests that dissatisfaction with Auckland Council has resulted in a level of disengagement with the local body election and that it’s the candidate with the greatest name recognition who will win the mayoral chains – even though Mr Goff hasn’t released policies on the issues of greatest concern to Aucklanders.

Mr Thomas also announces he will be contesting the Auckland mayoralty in 2019. For the remainder of this campaign, he says he intends "to make people aware of the lack of change a Phil Goff mayoralty will bring."

More detail to come, including an NBR Radio interview with Mr Thomas.

Click the hamburger symbol top right of our homepage to access the Rich List 2016 and other sections.

RAW DATA

PR: Thomas Asked To Withdraw From Auckland Mayoral Race

Auckland mayoral candidate Mark Thomas said he has been asked to withdraw from the Auckland mayoral race.

"I have been made aware of two other polls, including the only public poll, which also show Phil Goff with a considerable lead."

"People have asked me to consider my position because they think, as I do, that a Phil Goff mayoralty would not deliver the new leadership that Auckland needs."

"Having campaigned for nearly a year and spoken to thousands of Aucklanders, it is clear to me that the Auckland Council reputation is badly damaged."

"With 85% of Aucklanders dissatisfied with Auckland Council, I had hoped to tap into and build support from those interested in a very different approach."

"What I have discovered is that council’s standing is so low that many people don’t care."

Thomas said they care about transport and housing and council waste, but not about the council and as a result not really about the contest to be the next mayor. As a result, the media has also not really focused on the mayoral race.

"As it stands, the Auckland mayoralty appears likely to be decided just on the basis of who is the best known – not who has the skills and policies to make the changes needed."

"I have debated Phil Goff more than any other mayoral candidate. Although I have no personal issues with Phil, it is very clear to me he has neither the local government and Auckland Council experience nor the insights and policies to make the changes Auckland needs."

The only public poll on the mayoralty showed housing and transport were overwhelming the issues of greatest concern to Aucklanders. Yet this poll had Phil Goff with more than double the support of the next four candidates, despite his having not released housing and transport policies at this stage.

"I have greatly appreciated the support from many Aucklanders and am grateful to have been widely acknowledged as a credible candidate for Mayor – including from people who are not supporting me."

"I have very much enjoyed being part of Auckland Council for the last six years, helping build stronger communities and contributing to one of the most effective local boards."

"I believed the best way for me to improve Auckland Council was as mayor, but if current polling is confirmed and Phil Goff wins, I will find a way from outside council to make the council more relevant for people – as part of preparing a campaign for the Mayoralty in 2019."

"I will use the remaining weeks to make people aware of the lack of change a Phil Goff mayoralty will bring and to encourage people to vote positively for a new mayor who can fix the dysfunction that exists between Auckland and its council."