One positive aspect of the weekend's local body elections, however, was the dumping from council of Alick Shaw -- scratching a 3+ year itch for this writer.

Piss off, Shaw.

This picture* by Andrew Gorrie appeared both on the front page of Monday's DomPost and online, briefly -- one speculates as to why it has disappeared again -- and if you check the caption you will read "Alick Shaw gives mayor Kerry Prendergast a congratulatory hug".

Really? Could've fooled me.

My attempt to caption this picture would more run along the lines of "Kerry Prendergast, having been rid by the voters of toadie Alick Shaw from council, attempts to disengage herself from his clutches as quickly as humanly possible".

Either way, a charming pic.

The disheartening thing about this is only 21,603 people voted for her to continue as mayor, more than twice the tally of her nearest challenger. I can't tell you Wellington's voting-eligible population (though I bet Tom could), but that's not a lot of people voting.

Grr.

* Note: actually, this pic has been cropped -- the original also showed Prendergast's husband Rex Nicholl shaking his fists in glee, presumably at the prospect of three more years of unfettered money-making urban development.

Labels: misanthropy