No quibble over ECan's new chairwoman but drama over deputy vote
Thursday, 24 October 2019
An environmentally friendly keep-cup played a crucial role in ending a dramatic stalemate at the new-look Environment Canterbury (ECan) council's first meeting.
Freshly elected Christchurch Northeast/Ōrei regional councillor Jenny Hughey was chosen as chairwoman unopposed.
She told Stuff she had several priorities as chairwoman – a public transport fleet for the region with lower carbon emissions, including more electric buses and a possible investigation of light rail, returning the environment to a state which ensured good health for future generations, and extending the climate change emergency to be an ecological emergency too.
Her first duty in the $180,000-a-year role was overseeing the election of her deputy.
Re-elected North Canterbury/Ōpukepuke councillor Claire McKay was duly nominated and seconded by returning Mid-Canterbury/Ōpakihi councillor John Sunckell and new Christchurch South/Ōwhanga councillor Phil Clearwater respectively.
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Former deputy chairman and re-elected South Canterbury/Ōtuhituhi councillor Peter Scott was then nominated by returning Christchurch Central/Ōhoko representative Lan Pham and seconded by newly elected Christchurch South/Ōwhanga councillor Vicky Southworth.
Then it came to the vote but was soon clear, after two shows of hands, that both McKay and Scott had attracted seven votes.
ECan chief executive Bill Bayfield said: 'This is going down to the wire, folks.'
Under the rules agreed by councillors at the start of the meeting, any tie for winner had to be decided by lots being drawn.
'Who's got a hat?' Scott asked.
A keep-cup was quickly procured and two pieces of paper dropped into it.
Hughey drew out Scott's name and announced him as deputy chairman.
He then went across to McKay and gave her a hug.
Scott said he was 'lucky'.
'It is a cruel way to end this. And I would have felt sorry for myself if I lost, and I feel sorry for you.'
McKay congratulated Scott.
'It does seem very unfair, but that's the way it is,' she said.
Hughey has a master's degree in law and has spent 11 years in governance and community support and leadership roles at the Christchurch City Council.
Scott, who has a mixed-crop farm, also had portfolio responsibilities for air quality, regional transport and freshwater in the last council.
After accepting the chair, Hughey told the meeting she was thrilled to be coming in as a councillor.
'The science tells us we are in trouble as a race, and we are all aware of that because of the way that we haven't looked after the land sufficiently. And nobody's to blame, but we are all in it together.'