Andy Watson
Mayor of Rangitikei
Assumed office
12 October 2013
DeputyDean McManaway
Preceded byChalky Leary
Majority2,938 (62.47%) (2016)
Personal details
NationalityNew Zealander
SpouseBeth[1]
OccupationBusinessman

Andrew Geoffrey Watson[2] is the Mayor of Rangitikei District in Manawatū-Whanganui, New Zealand. He was elected as Mayor of Rangitikei on 12 October 2013, defeating incumbent mayor Chalky Leary.[1][3] Watson was re-elected in 2016[4] and 2019.

Political career

Watson began his political career as a councillor for the Marton ward of the Rangitikei District Council in the 2004 local elections. As a councillor he was chosen as Deputy Mayor by Mayor Bob Buchanan. He served in this role for two terms.[5]

With mayor Buchanan departing,[6] in 2007 Watson challenged for the mayoralty with the other contenders being Chalky Leary, Marilyn Craig, Nick Eddy and three others. Watson came in second place as Leary was elected receiving 1,639 votes or 31.0% of the votes with a majority of 233 votes or 4.4% over Watson.[7] Watson did not challenge for the mayoralty in 2010 and Leary was elected unopposed.[8]

In 2013 Leary was seeking a third term but his mayoralty was challenged for the first time. Watson entered the race, as well as Fresh Future Focus candidate Maree Brannigan and Taihape ward councillor Richard Aslett. Watson was elected by obtaining 1,983 votes (41.5%) of the total votes and a majority of 486 (10.2%) defeating incumbent mayor Chalky Leary, who received 1,497 votes. As Watson was elected mayor he did not take up his role as Marton ward councillor which went on to the next candidate with the most votes, resulting in the election of Mike Jones.[9] After his election Watson said he was expecting to work closely with Palmerston North mayor Jono Naylor and Wanganui mayor Annette Main.[1]

In May 2015 Meridian Energy's wind farm Project Central Wind was granted a five-year consent extension by the Rangitikei District Council led by Watson. This project is a planned 55-turbine farm that would generate electricity for 50,000 New Zealand homes each year.[10]

In September 2015 Watson, along with Palmerston North mayor Grant Smith, travelled to Melbourne in an attempt to attract Chinese investment to the district. The two mayors attended the Australasian China Cities business forum in order to attract investment for large-scale assets for local businesses.[11]

On 9 June 2016 he announced his intention to seek a second term as Mayor of Rangitikei.[12][13] He won the mayoral election, which took place on 8 October, with a substantial majority.[14]

Watson was re-elected as mayor in October 2016, defeating challengers Robert Snijders and George London. Watson received 3,638 votes, 2,938 votes more than his nearest opponent Snijders.[4] He appointed Nigel Belsham as deputy mayor for his second term in office.

He was re-elected unopposed in 2019.[15]

Life outside politics

Watson is a businessman and is married. He is from Marton..[1] He is also the creator of Spookers theme park[16] where he played a role as Old Man Joe.[17]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Wallis, Anna (14 October 2013). "Watson wins Rangitikei chain". Wanganui Chronicle – nzherald.co.nz. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  2. ↑ "Declaration Terminating State of Local Emergency". New Zealand Gazette. 13 April 2017.
  3. ↑ Wilson, Zaryd (12 October 2013). "Former Rangitikei mayor 'riding into sunset'". Manawatu Standard – Stuff. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  4. 1 2 "Final Election Results". Rangitikei District Council. 13 October 2016. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
  5. ↑ Wilson, Zaryd (6 June 2013). "Watson enters race for Rangitikei mayoralty". Manawatu Standard – Stuff. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  6. ↑ Wood, Simon (24 April 2008). "Ex-mayor elected as Grey Power VP". Wanganui Chronicle – The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  7. ↑ "Rangitikei DC Final Result" (PDF). Electionz.com. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  8. ↑ Rowatt, Colin (6 October 2010). "Mayor unchallenged, little impetus for change". Wanganui Chronicle – The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  9. ↑ "Rangitikei District Council – 2013 Triennial Elections" (PDF). Electionz.com. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  10. ↑ Brown, Caroline (29 May 2015). "Meridian Energy's Project Central Wind consent gets five-year extension". Stuff. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  11. ↑ Wilson, Zaryd (3 September 2015). "Mayor off to attract Chinese investment". Wanganui Chronicle – The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  12. ↑ Beaumont, Emily (9 June 2016). "Watson to seek re-election as mayor" (PDF). Fairfax Media. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  13. ↑ "Rangitikei mayor running again but no other chatter". Rangitikei District Monitor. Marton. 28 July 2016.
  14. ↑ "Final Election Results". Rangitikei District Council. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
  15. ↑ "Mayor Andy Watson elected unopposed for a further term". Rangitīkei District Council. 16 August 2019. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  16. ↑ Hutching, Chris (4 September 2018). "Spookers horror park owners look to sell up as civic life calls". Stuff.
  17. ↑ "Let the Terror Begin..." Auckland Today. 31 August 2011.
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