1962 Dunedin mayoral election

The 1962 Dunedin mayoral election was part of the New Zealand local elections held that same year. In 1962, 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.

1962 Dunedin mayoral election

← 1959 13 October 1962 1965 →
Turnout19,630
 
Candidate Stuart Sidey Russell Calvert
Party Citizens' Labour
Popular vote 10,003 9,541
Percentage 50.95 48.62

Mayor before election

Stuart Sidey

Elected mayor

Stuart Sidey

Background

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Stuart Sidey, the incumbent Mayor was re-elected for a second term. He narrowly defeated councillor Russell Calvert who was the Labour Party candidate. Initially Phil Connolly the MP for Dunedin Central (who had run in 1953) was to be Labour's mayoral candidate, but was forced to withdraw on grounds of ill-health. Connolly was sure he would have won had he stood, a feeling which was reinforced after the comparatively inexperienced Calvert came so close to winning against Sidey.[1]

The Citizens' Association increased their council representation, winning ten seats on the city council to the Labour Party's two.

Results

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The following table shows the results for the election:

1962 Dunedin mayoral election[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Citizens' Stuart Sidey 10,003 50.95 −2.49
Labour Russell Calvert 9,541 48.62
Informal votes 86 0.43 −0.41
Majority 462 2.35 +5.38
Turnout 19,630

Notes

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  1. ^ Jamieson 2009, p. 265.
  2. ^ "Mayoralty Polling Council". Otago Daily Times. 15 October 1962. p. 5.

References

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