March 22, 2015
One more chance for Len
One more chance for Len
WILLIE JACKSON
23 MARCH 2015
Auckland Mayor Len Brown can’t do right for doing wrong.
Plus it appears he’s obviously offended someone at the country’s largest newspaper, the New Zealand Herald, because there appears to be a concentrated push to get rid of Brown by discrediting him at every turn. The smear has started and makes me wonder who is behind it all.
Conspiracy theorists would have you believe that when the Herald can’t find a shark, or Auckland house price soaring story, poor old Len gets the call up. Brown’s well publicised indiscretions with intern Bevan Cheung have been well documented, and if his position was selected on morals alone, he would certainly be found wanting. But like former US president Bill Clinton has shown, there can still be life after major indiscretions.
This week’s serving from the Herald centred on Labour MP Phil Goff throwing his hat in the ring for next year’s Auckland mayoral elections. Goff would be a good contender. But if Labour wins the election, they will need the likes of Goff and co to stabilise the next Government. Following that an overseas posting will be on the cards, so that could rule him out.
Then like Groundhog Day, whenever the Auckland mayoralty debate is raised, John Banks name is flagged, like the on-going Auckland traffic problems. Banks maybe be passionate about wanting another turn but having him don the mayoral chains again would be back to the future – and we’ve already run out of sequels
Brown might not have the moral authority to lead the country’s biggest city, but whoever the next mayor is, joining the many factions of a city the size of Auckland will take courage and thick skin.
Auckland is like a dysfunctional family, and perhaps what is needed is a completely new broom from left field to sweep up the issues, deal with them and move on.
Deputy mayor Penny Hulse is another who is mentioned. Hulse certainly has the credentials and has served her apprenticeship well but doesn’t quite yet have the backing of a combined Auckland Super City. Her day will come, until then maybe just maybe we should look at giving Brown another chance he has a passion for South Auckland and we need as many advocates as we can get. Yes he is a flawed individual and I have been disappointed by his non-support of our union men on the Auckland wharfs but he still has over 18 months to go as the mayor and unless another option appears soon he still might be South Auckland’s best bet.
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