KEY POINTS:
Manukau City's Deputy Mayor, Sua William Sio, is to contest the Mangere electorate for the Labour Party in next year's general election, hoping to replace embattled independent MP Taito Phillip Field.
The Mangere Labour Electorate Committee made the announcement last night and chairman Tafafunai Tasi Lauese said Mr Sio had the unanimous support of the Labour Party and the committee.
The 47-year-old, who has been a member of Labour for more than 20 years and a Manukau City councillor since 2001, was appointed Deputy Mayor this year.
Mr Sio works for the Government as a Pacific issues assistant but will resign at the end of the month to concentrate on his electoral campaign.
He is unsure whether he will keep his role as Deputy Mayor if he wins the election.
Field appeared in court on November 26 on 15 counts of bribery and 25 of attempting to pervert the course of justice and was released on bail. He is due in court again tomorrow.
