1976 Hamilton mayoral by-election

June 2022 June 2022 1976 Hamilton mayoral by-election New Zealand Presidential no 1974 Hamilton mayoral election 1974 1977 Hamilton mayoral election 1977 24 April 1976 19,506 (48.76%) 150x150px Bruce Beetham Independent politician 9,743 49.49 150x150px Ross Jansen Independent politician 7,075 36.27 Mayor Mike Minogue Bruce Beetham The 1976 Hamilton mayoral by-election was held to fill the vacant position of Mayor of Hamilton in New Zealand. The polling was conducted using the standard first-past-the-post electoral method. Background Incumbent mayor Mike Minogue resigned mid-term after he was elected to parliament as MP for Hamilton West in November 1975. Seven candidates came forward to succeed him. A by-election for a seat on the Hamilton City Council occurred concurrently after the resignation of Ian James Drabble, who had moved outside of Hamilton.Hamilton Mayoralty Poll Today Otago Daily Times 24 April 1976 7 Candidates Seven candidates were nominated, the largest field of candidates for a mayoral election since 1950. The candidates were:Candidates for by-election The Times 23 April 1976 2 Bruce Beetham, A lecturer at Hamilton Teachers' College and leader of the Social Credit Party since 1972. He stood unsuccessfully for the Hamilton City Council in 1971 and the Rangitikei electorate in 1972 and 1975. Nicholas Gerardus Buysman, A committee member of the Hamilton Businessmen's Club and past president of the Waikato Restaurant Association. He stood unsuccessfully for the Hamilton City Council in 1971 and 1974. He stood for the mayoralty and council vacancies. Ross Jansen, A lawyer who was a Hamilton City Councillor from 1965 to 1974 and deputy mayor from 1971 to 1974. In 1972 he stood as the National Party candidate for Hamilton East. Douglas Bruce Mills, A building company director and a Hamilton City Councillor, first elected in 1959. Former mayor Denis Rogers endorsed Mills.A previous Mayor speaks out in favour of Bruce Mills The Times 23 April 1976 1 Archibald Henry Otton, A Welsh-born sheepskin store proprietor and ex-serviceman in the Royal New Zealand Air Force. Robert Ivan Peace, A manager of a wine company and president of the New Zealand Wine Resellers' Association. He was a member of the Waikato Electric Power Board and had been a Hamilton City Councillor since 1968. Matthew Cowley Te Hira, A motor mechanic and insurance salesman. Polling Three telephone polls were conducted.Poll gives Beetham lead The Times 6 April 1976 1 Telephone poll shows Beetham still ahead The Times 14 April 1976 1 Beetham still leading — poll The Times 22 April 1976 1 PollDate BruceBeetham NicholasBuysman RossJansen BruceMills IvanPearce MatthewTe Hira The Times 5 April 1976 30.1 – 17.1 1.8 1.4 1.4 The Times 13 April 1976 28.7 – 19.4 1.9 2.3 0.5 The Times 21 April 1976 38.7 0.4 18.1 2.9 1.2 0.8 Results The race quickly became a two-horse race between Beetham and Jansen. Both were attacked by other candidates for being allegedly partisan given Beetham's status as leader of Social Credit and Jansen's affiliation to the National Party. Both countered by saying they would not politicise the office of mayor.'Vested interest, politics' alleged in mayoral race The Times 22 May 1976 1 The election resulted in Beetham ultimately winning.Leader of Party Wins Mayoralty The New Zealand Herald 26 April 1976 3 May Woodcock, a local schoolteacher, won the vacant council seat.Hamilton Woman Tops Poll The New Zealand Herald 26 April 1976 3 Both Beetham and Woodcock were sworn in officially on 12 May.Bill Robson New Mayor Installed in Office The Times 13 May 1976 3 Mayoral by-election 1976 Hamilton Mayoral by-electionBeetham stretches majority The Times 5 May 1976 1 Declaration of Result of Election – Hamilton City The Times 5 May 1976 32 Independent politician Bruce Beetham 9,743 49.49 Independent politician Ross Jansen 7,075 36.27 Independent politician Bruce Mills 1,821 9.33 Independent politician Ivan Peace 581 2.97 Independent politician Matthew Te Hira 166 0.85 Independent politician Nicholas Buysman 53 0.27 Independent politician Archibald Henry Otton 23 0.11 44 0.22 2,668 13.67 19,506 48.76 Council by-election 1976 Hamilton City Council by-election Independent politician May Woodcock 6,150 31.56 Independent politician Raymond Webster Starr 3,494 17.93 Independent politician Ernest George Grylls 3,368 17.28 Independent politician David John Murray Peart 2,529 12.97 Independent politician Nicholas Buysman 2,086 10.70 Independent politician Gordon Batt 1,179 6.05 679 3.48 2,656 13.63 19,485 48.71 References Category:Mayoral elections in New Zealand Category:1976 elections in New Zealand Category:Politics of Hamilton, New Zealand Category:20th century in Hamilton, New Zealand Category:April 1976 in Oceania