Editorial: Another mystery man emerges for the 2017 election

Mark Dawson, Wanganui Chronicle editor

I felt a shiver down my spine and a sense of deja vu as I read the news ...

The Act Party had named its candidate to contest the Whanganui seat at the September 23 general election ... but the party could not confirm if the gentleman in question was actually standing.

My mind immediately went back to the last election - 2014 and the strange case of the candidate who never was.

Three years ago the name of Kim MacIntyre appeared on our ballot papers, representing the Conservative Party.

But Mr MacIntyre - understood to be the partner of then Conservative Party chief executive Christine Rankin - never campaigned in Whanganui, never set foot in Whanganui, cancelled his one scheduled appearance here (a walkabout in the town scheduled for September 6 that year) and remained an enigma throughout the campaign.

He couldn't even come to the phone to talk to the Chronicle about his party's policies.

Despite all this, he pulled in 815 votes - a commendable effort for an invisible man.

Now it appears we may have another mystery figure for the 2017 election.

Colin Anderson has been placed at number 18 on the Act Party list and named as their runner for the Whanganui electorate. That's what an official party press release said on Sunday.

A day later, however, his candidacy could not be confirmed and yesterday Act came up with another take on the enigma variations.

"At this time, we are still awaiting confirmation from the potential candidate if they are available to be listed as a candidate," the party soberly informed us.

Act leader David Seymour has actually come up with some sensible policies, so let's hope the party can find someone to pick up the mantle ... preferably someone who actually shows up in Whanganui.

We will keep you posted.