Hamilton local election has seen a surge of nominations this election like no earlier year. With 27 candidates vying for six seats in the Hamilton East Ward of the city, it is not an easy task for the candidates to woe voters, and is probably equally tough for voters to decide in favour of one or the other.
The winning six elected East General Ward councillors will represent a total population of 89,400 of their ward.
There are several voters who are yet to make up their mind. Some of the voters have been attending various events being organised across the city to meet candidates, while others have been browsing through the flood of pamphlets dropped in their mailboxes.
There are also those who depend upon their choice on the recommendations made to them by their family, friends or what they have been hearing about them. It is indeed a tough choice, but has to be made.
Two former Labour MPs – Jamie Strange and Sue Moroney, and a former National MP Tim Macindoe are in this list of 27 candidates that are seeking your vote to win a seat.
Labour’s Jamie Strange, a former school music teacher, was a list MP from Hamilton East for two terms before quitting Parliament in 2023.
Sue Moroney, a former trade unionist is the CEO of the Community Law for the past seven years, was a MP from 2005 to 2017.
Tim Macindoe, an incumbent councillor, was first elected to Parliament from Hamilton West in 2008 and was there for three terms. Apart from seeking a re-election as Councillor, he is a front-runner for the mayoral position. While he was on the Council he served as Deputy Chair, Infrastructure and Transport.
Apart from Macindoe, the other current Hamilton East councillors seeking re-election are: Andrew Bydder, Anna Casey-Cox (was Deputy Chair, Community and Natural Environment), Maxine van Oosten (Chair, Finance and Monitoring Committee).
This is the complete list of candidates standing in Hamilton East General Ward:
AFEAKI, Rachel; AITKEN, Stuart David; BYDDER, Andrew; CASEY-COX, Anna; DHALIWAL, Preet Raj Singh; DU PLOOY, Rudi; GIELEN, Jack; HAMILTON, Marie; HARVEY, Louise Rachel; HASSAN, Suhair Sabah; HENDERSON, Horiana Adrienne; HUMPHREYS, Peter; HUNT, Tim; JONASSEN, Jason; KARALUS, Rachel; LIU, Leo; MACINDOE, Tim; MARKS, Danielle; MCCONNOCHIE, Alexander Bruce; MCDONALD, John; MORONEY, Sue; NAND, Jenny; NG, Jono; ROBINSON, Turi; STRANGE, Jamie; TALBOT, Jackie and VAN OOSTEN, Maxine Joy.
Some of these candidates who are also contesting for position of city’s mayor are DU PLOOY, Rudi; GIELEN, Jack; KARALUS, Rachel; MACINDOE, Tim and MCDONALD, John.
You can know more about each candidate and their top priorities here to help you know them and make a decision.
Voting for the right candidate is important as the elected members represent the interests of Hamilton, and their decision affects the city’s growth, and eventually us as residents.
Elected members are responsible for: Law-making (bylaws) and overseeing compliance to the relevant Acts of Parliament.; Developing and approving Council policy., Determining expenditure and funding requirements of Council; Monitoring the performance of Council against its stated objectives and policies, etc.
Voting closes at midday on Saturday 11 October. Votes received after this time won’t be counted.
