By EUGENE BINGHAM
A second contender has entered the race for the Labour Party presidency.
Former Eden and Onehunga MP Richard Northey confirmed yesterday that he had been nominated to run for the position, due to come up for election at the party's annual conference in November.
Nominations close next week, with one other nominee having already declared his interest in replacing the outgoing party president, Bob Harvey.
Mike Williams, the party's successful election campaign manager, has already put his hat in the ring.
Mr Williams, a trusted lieutenant of Prime Minister Helen Clark, looked likely to claim the job uncontested until yesterday.
Mr Northey, an Auckland City councillor, said he had been approached by members of the national council to run. He had been nominated by the Auckland regional council of the party this week.
A member of Labour's national council for six years and chairman of the policy committee, Mr Northey, aged 55, said a contest would be healthy. "It enables people to focus on what their needs are and what direction they want the party to go in."
Mr Northey was an MP from 1984 to 1990 and 1993 to 1996.
Ex-MP in bid for Labour president post
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