K Gurunathan wins Kapiti mayoralty

HUMBLED: New Kapiti mayor K Gurunathan, middle, with son Ari, 19, wife Claire, and family dog Kaiza.

K Gurunathan swept to a comfortable mayoral victory, the Kapiti Coast district preliminary election results show.

Under the single transferable voting system, Mr Gurunathan's vote count was 8911, followed by the other mayoral contenders, former mayor Ross Church with 6611 votes, Gavin Welsh 4787 votes, Angela Buswell 3015 votes, Jackie Elliott 973 votes, and David Scott 744 votes.

There was a celebratory atmosphere in Mr Gurunathan's household in Waerenga Rd, Otaki, after he had fielded a phone call from council chief executive Pat Dougherty early this evening with the result.

It had been a nervous wait for Mr Gurunathan, who had been calm in the days leading up to election day, but he had kept himself busy by doing various jobs including "cleaning the house".

At his home, which had a wood fire on to ward off the chilly night air, Mr Gurunathan, his wife Claire and their son Ari, 19, chatted with friends who had arrived to celebrate the occasion which also featured a spread of finger food and drinks.

Mr Gurunathan also phoned his daughter Jessie, 33, and son Ravi, 29, who are both overseas, with the exciting news.

He had been fielding many congratulatory phone calls as well as questions about the new council team, how he would work with them, and what were the challenges for the next three years.

"I'm going to park that aside and I'm just going to enjoy the moment."

Mr Gurunathan, 63, who started in the district in 1995 as a newspaper reporter, felt the strongest point in his election campaign was that people knew who he was.

"Over the years they've known the stories I have written, the issues I've picked up, analyzed and dissected, some people didn't agree with, others did, but people know who I am and what I stand for."

He said the new council was a good mixture of new blood and returning elected members and "if we treat each not just as individuals but as representatives of the people then we will be fine".

He was looking forward to talking to elected members and finding out their passions.

"It has got to be an inclusive council.

"And I think we need to start on that basis.

"I'm looking forward to it."

Mr Gurunathan hadn't decided on his deputy but "it will definitely have to be an existing councillor."

He regretted Mr Welsh didn't stand for a council seat.

"I consider that a loss."

Wife Claire was very proud of her husband, who she has been married to for 36 years.

"He has got the heart that is needed for the community."

Kapiti Coast election results for the 2016-19 triennium

Mayor: K Gurunathan.

Districtwide: Angela Buswell, Mike Cardiff, Jackie Elliott, John Howson, David Scott.

Paraparaumu ward: Mark Benton, Fiona Vining.

Waikanae ward: Michael Scott.

Otaki ward: James Cootes, elected unopposed.

Paekakariki-Raumati ward: Janet Holborow.

Paraparaumu-Raumati Community Board: Jonny Best, Guy Burns, Bernie Randall, Kathy Spiers.

Waikanae Community Board: Tonchi Begovich, Jocelyn Prvanov, Jeremy Seamark, James Westbury.

Otaki Community Board: elected unopposed were Kerry Bevan, Christine Papps, Marilyn Stevens, Michele Warwick.

Paekakariki Community Board: elected unopposed were Stephen Eckett, Phillip Edwards, Holly Ewens, Paul Hughes.

The preliminary results show a voter turnout of 18,295 - 47.26 percent of eligible voters.

For the full list of results visit www.kapiticoast.govt.nz/elections2016