Mayor to resign at meeting

MANAWATU District Mayor, Ian McKelvie, who was elected the MP for Rangitikei in Election 2011 on Saturday, is to tender his resignation from the mayoral office in mid-December.

Manawatu District Council Chief Executive, Lorraine Vincent, said Mr McKelvie would continue as mayor until the end of council’s final meeting for 2011 on Thursday, December 15.

Ms Vincent said when she received Mr McKelvie’s resignation at the meeting, advice would immediately be given to council’s Electoral Officer, Warwick Lampp, and the By-Election progress would begin.

Deputy Mayor Matt Bell would then assume his role as Acting Mayor.

Councillor Bell would continue in that position until a new mayor was sworn-in following a Mayoral By-Election on Wednesday, March 7. Voting papers for the By-Election are to be mailed out to all electors on the roll from Monday, February 13.

Ms Vincent said if a sitting councillor won the mayoralty, a second By-Election would be necessary to fill the council vacancy.

She said council was planning to thank “Mayor Ian and Mayoress Sue for their nine years of significant contribution to local government”.

This would be held at council’s first meeting of 2012 on Thursday, February 16, with a number of special guests to be invited.

Key dates for the Manawatu District Council’s Mayoral By-Election

* Tuesday, December 20: Nominations open/roll open for inspection.

* Tuesday, January 17: Nominations close noon/roll closes.

* Monday, February 13: Saturday, February 18: Delivery of voting documents.

* Wednesday, March 7: Election Day. Voting closes noon.

* Wednesday, March 7: Official count.

* Monday, March 12: Declaration of result.