Council exercises right to vote in Electra Trust election
Thursday 14 June 2012
Council today opted to exercise its right to vote in the 2012 Electra Trust Elections.
As a major Electra customer with multiple connections to the network Council has a total of 249 votes but has chosen not to use them in the past.
Recently Council invited all Electra Trust candidates to present to Council. Tony Rush tabled a statement on 30 May and Mr Rush and Ray Latham attended and addressed Council last Thursday. Duncan Hill asked for a statement to be read out, as he was unable to attend in person. Chris Turver declined the invitations but offered to update Council on the role of the Trust, if re-elected. David Scott is overseas.
Councillors were faced with two decisions today – firstly whether Council should use its voting rights and, secondly, if it opted to so, which of the five candidates it would support.
Councillors Diane Ammundsen, Roger Booth, Penny Gaylor, Peter Ellis, Tony Lester and Ross Church voted in favour of Council exercising its right to vote, as an Electra customer. Councillors Gurunathan, Mike Cardiff and Tony Lloyd disagreed.
When it came to voting for candidates councillors Gurunathan, Lloyd and Cardiff did not participate in the process. Councillors Gurunathan and Mike Cardiff left the chamber whilst voting took place.
Voting was done on a proportional basis with 249 votes apportioned to Ray Latham, 207 to Tony Rush and 42 to Duncan Hill.
Councillors passed another resolution making it clear Council had no interest in targeting the Electra Trust rebate and acknowledging it is the business of the Electra Trust to determine how the rebate is used and distributed.
Horowhenua District Council has also exercised its voting rights in this and previous Electra Trust elections.