City mayor to run against Lees-Galloway for MP job

Palmerston North Mayor Jono Naylor is the sole nominee for the National Party candidacy for the Palmerston North electorate.

Naylor has just announced he will run against sitting Labour MP Iain Lees-Galloway in September's election, subject to confirmation by local party members.

He said after 13 years in local government, he felt he had more to offer the city and could be more effective as a member of parliament than as mayor.

The timing was right for his family, he said, and while he had not been a member of a political party until recently, he believed National's values around personal responsibility, strong families and community aligned best with his own.

If successful, he would resign from the mayoralty, triggering a by-election.

He plans to continue as mayor during the campaign.

Naylor was first elected mayor in 2007, after serving six years as a city councillor.

He was re-elected last year, in the city's first election under STV, when he received 51.7 per cent of voters' first choices.

MOVE 'FEELS RIGHT'

Naylor's task would be to peg back Lees-Galloway's 3285 majority.

He would also campaign to retain National's lead on party votes.

He promised a campaign about ideas and ideology.

Naylor said he loved being mayor, and although he had not considered a move into national politics until this year, it was a decision he had not taken lightly.

"For me, there is an increasing desire to contribute not just to this community, but to the wider New Zealand community."

He said the city council was doing a good job for the city, and would continue to do so without him, if that was required.
"The decision feels right for me.

"Everything in life has a season, and just because you love doing something does not mean you should carry on doing it forever."

Naylor said there was potential for conflict as he campaigned while still working as mayor, but he would manage it.

Labour last month confirmed incumbent Lees-Galloway would stand again in Palmerston North. He has been the city's MP since 2007.

Source: Manawatū Standard