Anderton considers running for city mayor

Political veteran Jim Anderton yesterday said he was considering contesting the Christchurch mayoralty representing the Labour-affiliated Christchurch 2021 group against incumbent Bob Parker.

While Mr Anderton says a decision is a couple of weeks away, his political protege and former 2021 mayoral contender, Megan Woods, is seeking the Labour Party nomination for Mr Anderton's Wigram electorate for next year's general election.

Mr Anderton said he had been approached by members of the Christchurch 2021 group as a possible mayoral candidate and he was giving it some thought.

"The only reason I'm even considering it is the parlous state of the show and the very serious angst there is in the community about the direction of the council. I haven't made a decision but there are a number of issues that have to be resolved and some of them would be very obvious."

They include his future as an MP.

"When somebody asks you to do this [run for mayor] you can't say seriously that you're going to think about doing something like this and then carry on as a MP as well, but on the other hand I don't have to [run]," he said.

Although he has been tipped to retire from national politics at the next general election Mr Anderton was keeping his options open yesterday.

"People have said that I'm either going to lose, or die, or stand down or retire or something for a long time now - they've all been wrong."

Mr Anderton, 72, has held the Wigram seat - formerly known as Sydenham - since 1984.

Yesterday, Ms Woods, a member of Mr Anderton's Progressive Party until 2007 who is now active in the 2021 group, said she would seek selection as the Labour Party candidate for Wigram in the 2011 election. Ms Woods unsuccessfully contested the Christchurch Mayoralty as Christchurch 2021 candidate in 2007, losing to Mr Parker by 14,400 votes.