Ex-cons for Hamilton!

Stuff reports:

One of Hamilton’s mayoral candidates is campaigning while on bail. Arshad Chatha is awaiting trial for allegedly punching a bailiff in 2010.

It’s not the first time Mr Chatha has multitasked with campaigns and courtrooms.

While running for the Palmerston North mayoralty in 2007, he was found guilty on a cluster of fraud charges, which led to a two-year jail sentence.

Two years earlier, following another mayoral bid, he was jailed for two months after failing to complete 200 hours’ community work for two theft convictions.

At his Hamilton East home last night, Mr Chatha said he had a “clear conscience” and his convictions were in the past.

“What has happened in the past, I was innocent. I didn’t do anything wrong against New Zealand or against the people of New Zealand.”

He said he was a victim of “abuses of power”.

I think Mr Chatha’s lack of remorse speaks for itself.

Poor Hamilton has two ex-cons standing for Mayor. They also have Ewan Wilson standing. Wilson of course was convicted of four charges of fraud in the late 1990s, and banned as a company director for five years.

How many Councils have to convicted criminals standing for Mayor?