Kaikohe businesswoman and photographer Debbie Beadle (pictured) has headed off six other candidates to win the Kaikohe-Hokianga Community Board by-election by a convincing margin.
The postal ballot closed at noon yesterday with the result announced a few hours later. Just under 30 per cent of 4296 eligible electors cast their votes. The results were Fiona Bannister, 111 votes; Harko Brown, 80; Debbie Beadle, 379; Mike Edmonds, 229; Matt King, 140; Shaun Reilly, 243; and Phyllis Rintoul, 78.
Mrs Beadle pledged to listen to the people of Kaikohe and bring their issues to council attention. She had lived her whole life in the Ngawha Springs-Kaikohe area and knew almost everyone, which she believed helped her win.
She works as a contract photographer for NZME, the company which owns this newspaper, and as a tow truck driver in the business she co-owns with husband Tony Taylor.
