Wellington City mayoral election, 1977

Wellington City mayoral election, 1977

8 October 1977

Turnout 41,641   Candidate Michael Fowler Sir Frank Kitts Party Citizens' Labour Popular vote 17,041 14,022 Percentage 40.92 33.67   Candidate Tony Brunt Carmen Party Values Independent Popular vote 7,996 1,686 Percentage 19.20 4.04

Mayor before election Michael Fowler Elected Mayor Michael Fowler

The Wellington City mayoral election, 1977 was part of the New Zealand local elections held that same year. In 1977, election were held for the Mayor of Wellington plus other local government positions including eighteen city councillors. The polling was conducted using the standard first-past-the-post electoral method.

The 1977 mayoralty was notable for the highly publicized candidacy of Carmen Rupe, a transgender drag performer and brothel keeper. With the support of local businessman Bob Jones, who organised her campaign and wrote her speeches, Carmen's campaign utilised the slogans Get in Behind and Carmen for Mayor^[1] and campaigned on a platform to legalise gay marriage and brothels, despite neither being local-government matters in New Zealand.^[2]

Mayoralty results

Wellington mayoral election, 1977^[3][4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
	Citizens'	Michael Fowler	17,041	40.92
	Labour	Sir Frank Kitts	14,022	33.67
	Values	Tony Brunt	7,996	19.20
	Independent	Carmen	1,686	4.04
	Independent Citizens'	Saul Goldsmith	568	1.36
	Independent	Ivan Solt	167	0.40
	Independent	Donald McMillan	161	0.38
Majority			3,019	7.25
Turnout			41,641

Councillor results

Wellington local election, 1977^[3][4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
	Values	Tony Brunt	20,664	49.62
	Citizens'	Ian Lawrence	20,617	49.51
	Labour	Bill Jeffries	20,415	49.02
	Citizens'	Stewart Duff	20,141	48.36
	Labour	Keith Spry	20,133	48.34
	Citizens'	Elisabeth Campbell	20,122	48.32
	Citizens'	Rosemary Young	20,069	48.19
	Citizens'	Audrey Fitzgerald	19,609	47.09
	Labour	Brian Francis O'Brien	18,829	45.21
	Labour	Frank O'Flynn	18,510	44.45
	Citizens'	Anne Yardley	18,035	43.31
	Citizens'	Phillip Wootton	17,709	42.52
	Citizens'	Jim McMillan	17,600	42.26
	Labour	Joe Aspell	17,475	41.96
	Labour	Jenny Brough	16,019	38.46
	Labour	Helene Ritchie	15,871	38.11
	Citizens'	Bruce Harris	15,529	37.29
	Citizens'	Gavin Wilson	15,353	36.86
	Labour	Marijke Robinson	15,291	36.72
	Citizens'	David Bull	14,917	35.82
	Labour	Tala Cleverly	15,056	36.15
	Citizens'	Alan Revell	14,860	35.68
	Labour	Jim Edwards	14,716	35.34
	Citizens'	John Chapman	14,667	35.22
	Labour	Fanaura Kimiora Kingstone	14,377	34.53
	Citizens'	Desmond Hoskins	14,376	34.52
	Labour	James Kebbell	14,270	34.26
	Labour	Tilly Hunter	14,235	34.18
	Citizens'	Robert Paske	14,166	34.01
	Labour	John Ulrich	13,972	33.55
	Citizens'	Ernest Gartrell	13,709	32.92
	Citizens'	Frank Nossiter	13,703	32.90
	Citizens'	George Nicholls	13,423	32.23
	Labour	Joe McTaggart	13,022	31.27
	Labour	Ross Simpson	12,561	30.16
	Labour	Mark Peck	11,881	28.53
	Values	Judith Reinken	8,745	21.00
	Independent Citizens'	Saul Goldsmith	7,636	18.33
	Values	Christopher Wheeler	7,269	17.45
	Independent	Carmen	6,817	16.37
	Values	Brian Dreadon	6,766	16.24
	Independent	Donald McMillan	4,761	11.43
	Independent	David Mitchell	2,963	7.11
	Independent	Ronald England	2,860	6.86
	Independent	Ivan Solt	2,731	6.55
	Independent	Amatanga Sooialo	2,547	6.11
	Independent	Frank Moncur	2,218	5.32
	Independent	James Quinn	2,100	5.04
	Independent	James Billings	1,852	4.44

References

1. Trust: A true story of Women and Gangs. Pip Desmond. 2009. Page 158
2. "Carmen Rupe, legend, dies in Sydney". gaynz.com. 2011. Retrieved 20 December 2011. Transgender goddess and glbt community icon Carmen Rupe has died in Sydney, aged 75, from kidney failure following months of poor health.
3. Smyth, A.J. (25 October 1977). Declaration of Election Results (Report). Wellington City Council.
4. "Wellington". Evening Post. 10 October 1977.