1953 Dunedin mayoral election

The 1953 Dunedin mayoral election was part of the New Zealand local elections held that same year. In 1953, elections were held for the Mayor of Dunedin plus other local government positions including twelve city councillors. The polling was conducted using the standard first-past-the-post electoral method.

1953 Dunedin mayoral election
17 November 1953
Turnout30,891 (64.20%)
 
Candidate Len Wright Phil Connolly
Party Citizens' Labour
Popular vote 15,420 13,365
Percentage 49.91 43.26
Mayor before election

Len Wright

 Elected Mayor

Len Wright

Campaign

Len Wright, the incumbent Mayor, was re-elected for a second term. He defeated a spirited challenge from Phil Connolly the sitting Labour MP for Dunedin Central, who despite losing the mayoralty was elected to the Otago Harbour Board, where he became deputy-chairman.[1]

A major talking point in the lead up to the election was the potential of a clash with the 1953 Royal Tour.[2] There were proposals to postpone local elections until early 1954 over fears of reduced turnout due to a conflicted schedule. The proposals were considered by the Minister of Internal Affairs William Bodkin, who ultimately decided against it.[3]

Results

The following table shows the results for the election:

1953 Dunedin mayoral election[4][5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Citizens' Len Wright 15,420 49.91 -1.72
Labour Phil Connolly 13,365 43.26
Independent Charlie Hayward 2,106 6.81
Majority 2,055 6.65 +2.86
Turnout 30,891 64.20 +17.38

Notes
  1. Jamieson 2009, p. 167-71.
  2. "Move to Postpone Next Municipal Elections". The Evening Post. 18 October 1952.
  3. "Local Elections Date Fixed". The Evening Post. 28 January 1953.
  4. "Voters reject more than twenty mayors". The New Zealand Herald. 23 November 1953. p. 6.
  5. Jamieson 2009, p. 171.

References
  • Jamieson, Rosemary (2009), In Command: Minesweeper Captain and Labour Parliamentarian (1st ed.), Wellington, [N.Z.]: Steele Roberts
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