1912 Wellington mayoral election

New Zealand local election November 2016 November 2016 1912 Wellington mayoral election New Zealand Wellington coat of arms (1878-1951) (shield only).svg Presidential no 1911 Wellington mayoral election 1911 1913 Wellington mayoral election 1913 25 April 1912 10,333 (34.40%) 150x150px David McLaren United Labour Party (New Zealand) 4,235 40.98 150x150px Augustus Biss Independent politician 2,634 25.49 150x150px John Smith Wellington Citizens League 1,907 18.45 150x150px Robert Wright Independent politician 1,557 15.06 Mayor Thomas Wilford David McLaren The 1912 Wellington mayoral election was part of the New Zealand local elections held that same year. In 1911, elections were held for the Mayor of Wellington plus other local government positions. Thomas Wilford, the incumbent Mayor, resigned due to ill health and did not contest the ensuing election. David McLaren was elected to office as the new Mayor of Wellington, beating three other contenders and becoming the city's first Labour Mayor. The polling was conducted using the standard first-past-the-post electoral method. Background Thomas Wilford had been Mayor of Wellington since his election in 1910.http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=EP19100428.2.116.2 The Evening Post 8 Mayoral Elections 28 April 1910 11 May 2016 LXXIX 99 An ailing Wilford stood for re-election in 1911 and was unopposed for office. However, his illness worsened and he almost died after complications during an operation for appendicitis from which his health was to never truly recover. Wilford was forced to travel to England for medical treatment.Butterworth Susan 3w17 Wilford, Thomas Mason - Biography 17 December 2011 For several months councillor John Smith had acted as Mayor on his behalf before Wilford formally resigned. Smith decided to stand for the position proper himself in the ensuing election. After serving for 11 years as a Wellington City Councillor and 12 years as a member of the Hospital Board, David McLaren stood for the mayoralty.Taylor Kerry 3m22 McLaren, David - Biography 17 December 2011 Results The following table gives the election results: 1912 Wellington mayoral electionhttp://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=TDN19120426.2.47 Taranaki Daily News 5 The Mayoral Elections 26 April 1912 23 May 2016 LIV 254 United Labour Party (New Zealand) David McLaren 4,235 40.98 Independent politician Augustus Biss 2,634 25.49 Wellington Citizens League John Smith 1,907 18.45 Independent politician Robert Wright 1,557 15.06 1,601 15.49 10,333 34.40 Outcome As a result of his victory, McLaren became the first Labour mayor of a major city in New Zealand.Gustafson 1980 42 Due to McLaren's win at the polls for mayor his seat on the city council was declared vacant. A by-election was held for it a month later where his colleague in the labour movement, Edward Tregear, was successful in winning.Howe K.R. 2t48 Tregear, Edward 10 June 2016 Notes References Barry Gustafson Barry Gustafson Labour's path to political independence: The Origins and Establishment of the New Zealand Labour Party, 1900–19 Auckland, New Zealand Auckland University Press 1980 0-19-647986-X autocollapse Category:Mayoral elections in Wellington Category:1912 elections in New Zealand Category:Politics of the Wellington Region Category:1910s in Wellington Category:April 1912 in Oceania