First time lucky?
Debutant mayoral candidates Al Mansell and Bernard O’Shaughnessy are extreme personalities with big plans for Wellington. One’s a pothead who will work for free, the other will give away a third of his salary to charity and campaigns to restrict the number of liquor outlets in his suburb.
AL Mansell attracted controversy this year when he climbed the Supreme Court building wrapped in a New Zealand flag.
He was also wearing a shirt that criticised current drug laws.
“I think drug use is a human right and I think people should be able to put anything in their bodies they choose. That goes for all drugs. I’m the only candidate to talk about my drug use but I’m sure I am not the only one to use them in my lifetime,” he says.
Bernard O’ Shaughnessy, a former teacher, is slightly less controversial with his past media exposure. He wants to restrict liquor availability, including targeting those attending the NZI Sevens.
“We have a problem with drunks drinking in public areas, in both the suburbs and the CBD. I would like to see Park Wise issuing penalties to offenders, as police are currently writing up those tickets and it’s a waste of state resources,” O’ Shaughnessy says.
Both candidates would like a more transparent system of council decision making if elected.
Mansell wants policies to be understood by the public.
“I don’t want longwinded explanations given by council when the public enquires about issues that concern them. Mark Twain once said that your message is lost if a 14-year-old can’t understand it. I would like the public to feel included in policy making and I want policy to be explained in plain English.”
O’ Shaughnessy also feels the council needs to listen to the public more often.
“There’s a history that the current council doesn’t listen to ratepayers. All of the wards have resident ratepayers’ association meetings but councillors hardly ever turn up until an election comes around. That’s wrong. Councillors need to answer to ratepayers.”
Both candidates want to address the distribution of wealth.
O’ Shaughnessy doesn’t feel Wellington shares its wealth evenly with all communities and would like a more balanced distribution of wealth between all the wards.
“I want to look at holding the rates. As they go up the price of everything else increases. It affects everybody. Benefits of rates that come from each ward should be returned to that ward,” he says.
Mansell says rates are too high, particularly household rates.
“Residential households bear an un-proportionate percentage of the burden. I would reassess the situation if elected,” he says.
Another issue that both candidates have strong opinions on is the future of the capital’s public transport system.
“I want to make public transport free to encourage people to use it. I would like a car free Golden Mile. I would like to see buses travel along the Quays and introduce a “tuk tuk” (a motorised rickshaw) system of transport which would link up with public transport to ferry people down to Lambton Quay,” says Mansell.
O’ Shaughnessy wants Manners Mall to go back to being a pedestrian-only zone.
“It’s what the public wants. I also feel a light rail system is feasible. It should go from Johnsonville railway station to the airport. This is a better alternative than some of the ideas that are being discussed.”
Bernard O’Shaughnessy:
What car do you drive?
Pushbike only - no car.
What is one issue in the past three years that has made you angry?
Favourite is Manners Mall... the Mayor.
What is your favourite and least favourite Wellington something?
How the council intends to privatise water.
What needs the most attention in Wellington, public transport, or waterfront, why?
Public transport.
If you were a dictator, what is the first thing you would implement in Wellington?
Not to pay for rugby.
What was your worst/best subject at college?
Latin/French, best Art.
What is your biggest weakness (humour us)?
Red Wine.
In six words describe your talents.
Listening, determination, humour, compassion, action, results.
If you were an animal what would you be?
Dog.
Al Mansell:
What car do you drive?
I have a 250cc motor bike, and I cycle, run, walk and bus.
What is one issue in the past three years that has made you angry?
The police terror raids in 2007. In Wellington they raided a house; but in Ruatoki, while raiding a house, they locked down and bullied a whole community. They were using violence to send a political message. That is terrorism, in my book.
What needs the most attention in Wellington, public transport, or waterfront, why?
In the medium-term, oil will become priced beyond the reach of private vehicle users. We need to have a public transport system good enough to keep our city functioning.
If you were a dictator, what is the first thing you would implement in Wellington?
A show trial for the architects of rogernomics. Everybody loves a show trial.
What was your worst/best subject at college?
Best: Maths. Worst: Music.
What is your biggest weakness (humour us)?
I’ve only got two speeds. I’m either full-bore or flaked-out.
In six words describe your talents.
Radical honesty, better late than never.
If you were an animal what would you be?
Rihanna’s lapdog.
AL Mansell attracted controversy this year when he climbed the Supreme Court building wrapped in a New Zealand flag.
He was also wearing a shirt that criticised current drug laws.
“I think drug use is a human right and I think people should be able to put anything in their bodies they choose. That goes for all drugs. I’m the only candidate to talk about my drug use but I’m sure I am not the only one to use them in my lifetime,” he says.
Bernard O’ Shaughnessy, a former teacher, is slightly less controversial with his past media exposure. He wants to restrict liquor availability, including targeting those attending the NZI Sevens.
“We have a problem with drunks drinking in public areas, in both the suburbs and the CBD. I would like to see Park Wise issuing penalties to offenders, as police are currently writing up those tickets and it’s a waste of state resources,” O’ Shaughnessy says.
Both candidates would like a more transparent system of council decision making if elected.
Mansell wants policies to be understood by the public.
“I don’t want longwinded explanations given by council when the public enquires about issues that concern them. Mark Twain once said that your message is lost if a 14-year-old can’t understand it. I would like the public to feel included in policy making and I want policy to be explained in plain English.”
O’ Shaughnessy also feels the council needs to listen to the public more often.
“There’s a history that the current council doesn’t listen to ratepayers. All of the wards have resident ratepayers’ association meetings but councillors hardly ever turn up until an election comes around. That’s wrong. Councillors need to answer to ratepayers.”
Both candidates want to address the distribution of wealth.
O’ Shaughnessy doesn’t feel Wellington shares its wealth evenly with all communities and would like a more balanced distribution of wealth between all the wards.
“I want to look at holding the rates. As they go up the price of everything else increases. It affects everybody. Benefits of rates that come from each ward should be returned to that ward,” he says.
Mansell says rates are too high, particularly household rates.
“Residential households bear an un-proportionate percentage of the burden. I would reassess the situation if elected,” he says.
Another issue that both candidates have strong opinions on is the future of the capital’s public transport system.
“I want to make public transport free to encourage people to use it. I would like a car free Golden Mile. I would like to see buses travel along the Quays and introduce a “tuk tuk” (a motorised rickshaw) system of transport which would link up with public transport to ferry people down to Lambton Quay,” says Mansell.
O’ Shaughnessy wants Manners Mall to go back to being a pedestrian-only zone.
“It’s what the public wants. I also feel a light rail system is feasible. It should go from Johnsonville railway station to the airport. This is a better alternative than some of the ideas that are being discussed.”
Bernard O’Shaughnessy:
What car do you drive?
Pushbike only - no car.
What is one issue in the past three years that has made you angry?
Favourite is Manners Mall... the Mayor.
What is your favourite and least favourite Wellington something?
How the council intends to privatise water.
What needs the most attention in Wellington, public transport, or waterfront, why?
Public transport.
If you were a dictator, what is the first thing you would implement in Wellington?
Not to pay for rugby.
What was your worst/best subject at college?
Latin/French, best Art.
What is your biggest weakness (humour us)?
Red Wine.
In six words describe your talents.
Listening, determination, humour, compassion, action, results.
If you were an animal what would you be?
Dog.
Al Mansell:
What car do you drive?
I have a 250cc motor bike, and I cycle, run, walk and bus.
What is one issue in the past three years that has made you angry?
The police terror raids in 2007. In Wellington they raided a house; but in Ruatoki, while raiding a house, they locked down and bullied a whole community. They were using violence to send a political message. That is terrorism, in my book.
What needs the most attention in Wellington, public transport, or waterfront, why?
In the medium-term, oil will become priced beyond the reach of private vehicle users. We need to have a public transport system good enough to keep our city functioning.
If you were a dictator, what is the first thing you would implement in Wellington?
A show trial for the architects of rogernomics. Everybody loves a show trial.
What was your worst/best subject at college?
Best: Maths. Worst: Music.
What is your biggest weakness (humour us)?
I’ve only got two speeds. I’m either full-bore or flaked-out.
In six words describe your talents.
Radical honesty, better late than never.
If you were an animal what would you be?
Rihanna’s lapdog.
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