Hicks applies for a recount in Gore after losing mayoralty to 23-year-old Ben Bell

Monday, 17 October 2022

Former Gore district mayor Tracy Hicks says he is going for a recount, after losing the mayoralty to 23-year-old Ben Bell by eight votes.

Hicks said he has submitted an application for a recount today and he would “see how it progresses”.

“My reason for doing it is that for the last two or three days I’ve been overwhelmed by my supporters and I want to have reassurance given the tight result that it was accurate.

“I owe it to them and I owe to myself.’’

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He said he was not suggesting that there had been any ‘’devious behaviour or deliberate attempts to play with votes”.

“A significant volume of votes arrived late. There were blank votes and only one informal vote which goes against what our previous elections have had and what our neighbours have experienced,’’ he said.

When asked if the result had come as a shock, he said he was surprised at the closeness.

“Nationally I think people are unsettled and they are looking for change. Apparently there are a record number of new mayors across the country.

Hicks said he had ‘’absolutely no idea’’ how long the recount would take.

Bell said it was Hick’s right to apply for a recount, and it was up to a judge to determine whether one was granted.

“I’ll respect the judge’s decision. Personally I think Electionz have done an excellent job right through the counting process.’’

In the Gore and Southland districts there was a five-day delay in announcing who had won the mayoralties. In Gore, 67 special votes had to be counted.

Electionz electoral officer Anthony Morton said if a recount application was granted, the court would give the Electoral Officer notice of the judicial decision which will detail where and when the recount would take place and the process to be used.

The Electoral Officer then has to arrange the appropriate resources to carry out the recount within the required parameters.

Morton did not answer questions about how long the process would take.

Hicks had served as the district’s mayor for 18 years and was seeking a seventh term at the local body elections earlier this month.