Sophie Barker.
Photo: Supplied
Dunedin’s next mayor will be Sophie Barker with preliminary election results showing her further ahead.
Early results on Saturday showed incumbent Jules Radich had lost his bid for a second term and Barker was in the lead by just 105 votes.
But preliminary results released on Sunday night by Dunedin City Council saw her with an increased margin of 726 votes over second-placed candidate Andrew Simms.
Based on these results council elected is Andrew Simms, Lee Vandervis, Jules Radich, Marie Laufiso, John Chambers, Russell Lund, Brent Weatherall, Cherry Lucas, Steve Walker, Mickey Treadwell, Benedict Ong, Mandy Mayhem, Doug Hall, and Christine Garey.
This may change as special votes are yet to be counted, and the final results are expected by Thursday, the council said in a statement.
Jules Radich had lost his bid for a second term.
Photo: RNZ / REECE BAKER
“Whilst the release of the preliminary results has taken longer than anticipated due to the number of last day voting, I’m incredibly pleased with the voter turnout and would like to thank everyone who exercised their right to vote,’ deputy electoral officer Robyn Dillon said.
On Saturday, Sophie Barker told the Otago Daily Times it would be a pretty huge milestone if she kept her lead as the second woman elected as Dunedin’s mayor since Sukhi Turner in 1995.
“I had a great team behind me, women and men, and that makes a huge difference is when you have people that believe in you and bore you up through the very challenging election period,” she told the ODT.
Just over three years ago, Barker was not certain she would stand again for council but a pep talk from her daughter, Charlotte, set her straight, she told the Otago Daily Times.
Photo: Otago Daily Times
Radich’s loss bucked the trend for big city mayors with Auckland incumbent Wayne Brown and Christchurch mayor Phil Mauger both retaining their seats, while Andrew Little picked up the empty seat in Wellington.
Radich said he was disappointed not to win but he had unfinished business that he intended to focus on as a councillor this term.
“I’m happy that I’m still on council because I’m very keen to shepherd my pipes and pumps work for South Dunedin through so that we have an increase in their security of South Dunedin. I think that’s very important,” he said.
“The focus for me has never been about ego or being the mayor, although I prefer to be the mayor, the focus is always about what’s the best for Dunedin and getting things done for Dunedin.”
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.