The two top rated Councillors standing as a ticket

The Dom Post reports:

One may be blue and the other red, but that’s not stopping two of Wellington’s most popular councillors from joining forces to run for mayor and deputy mayor in next year’s October election.

The match of Lambton ward councillor Nicola Young and Southern ward councillor Paul Eagle might seem unusual, but the two say they cover most bases – male and female, Maori and European, outer suburbs and inner city and left wing and right wing.

Young’s father, Bill, was a National Party Cabinet minister.

“Most of local government is not about left or right. It’s about getting stuff done,” she said.

“We’re both committed to Wellington and are looking for what’s good for all Wellingtonians.

“There is often a bit of a trade-off there, but it’s about fairness and being aspirational for the city.

The Wellingtonian’s panel rated Eagle and Young as the two best performing Councillors on the Wellington City Council. That puts them in good stead to be Mayor and Deputy Mayor.

The fact they are from different sides of the political spectrum can be a plus. Most of local government should not be about politics.

Eagle, who said his relationship with Young would not change his standing for Labour, said he had no desire to be mayor, but was happy to support Young and would be encouraging Wellington’s Labour voters to follow suit.

Only 18 months until the local elections.