New election role for Laws - gracious loser

Michael Laws.

Failed Wanganui mayoral candidate Michael Laws reacted with uncharacteristic grace and humour after losing to incumbent Annette Main. "Second is cool," the firebrand former MP, two-time Wanganui mayor and radio shock jock told the Herald on Sunday yesterday.

Main, 62, won a second term when she beat Laws by 9438 votes to 6788, but Laws will still be in the council chambers as he was re-elected to the Wanganui District Council.

He also won another term on the Whanganui District Health Board.

Laws was good humoured about the loss.

"Annette Main won handsomely. Good on her."

A mayor had to do something really wrong to lose after one term, Laws said.

"I was very pleased with my vote total considering everything."

Laws briefly suspended his mayoral campaign in August after his ex-partner and mother of his three young children, Leonie Brookhammer, had a stroke.

Main also suffered tragedy, losing her husband John Blythe unexpectedly in June.