Gilmour backs Craig for Super City mayor

Ewen Gilmour said family health issues and campaign funding had caused him to pull out of the mayoralty race. Photo / Steven McNicholl

Click here for the 'Idiot's guide to the Super City' to see how the new Auckland Council will work.

Westie comedian Ewen Gilmour has pulled out of the Super City mayoralty race and thrown his lot behind pro-smacking campaigner Colin Craig.

Mr Gilmour said health problems in his family convinced him to pull out.

"I am their first port of call," Mr Gilmour said.

He said not having enough money for his campaign was another reason.

"I want to be a winner and I would not have had a chance to do that. I believe [money] makes a big difference but if I did have that much money, I wouldn't do that with it. I would pay off my mortgage, I would pay off my Mum's mortgage," Mr Gilmour said.

He is now telling people to vote for Mr Craig.

Mr Craig organised a march to in-act a referendum which would have allowed parents to smack their children.

Mr Gilmour sat next to Mr Craig at a Super City debate at Auckland's Unitec last Tuesday and the two were seen chatting throughout the night.

Mr Gilmour said he agreed with Mr Craig's attitude to referenda, sorting the leaky homes issue and keeping an eye on debt.

"Everyone is promising big dreams. They're saying: Vote for me and I will build you a monument but where is the money coming from?" Mr Gilmour said.

He said Mr Craig seemed to be promising "commonsense, sensible stuff".

"Let's get a new broom in there. The other guys have been in there sometime," Mr Gilmour said.

Asked what he would be doing for Mr Craig, Mr Gilmour said he would carry a hammer around with him and put Mr Craig's signs back up if he found they had been knocked down.

"If he needs me, he can give me a call," Mr Gilmour said.

Mr Craig said he would meet Mr Gilmour to talk about his campaign.

"We both share the same concerns about the Super City and would like to make sure that the people of Auckland feel as though they are being represented fairly by someone who places utmost importance on responsible leadership and civic duty," Mr Craig said.

Then there were eight. Sill in the race: Len Brown, John Banks, Andrew Williams, Colin Craig, Simon Prast, Shannon Gillies, Wayne Young and Penny Bright are still in the race. Nominations for Supercity mayor close on August 20.