Left targets seats at council table | Canterbury News | Local News in Canterbury

Left-leaning 2021 is gearing up for another bid at taking power at this year's local body elections.

The group this week called for nominations, as they work towards choosing candidates to contest October's local body election.

2021 mounted a highly public campaign in 2007 but only two candidates - Yani Johanson and Chrissie Williams - were elected.

However, The Star understands 2021 will target specific current councillors it believes it can unseat.

2021 chairwoman Megan Woods refused to be drawn on who those councillors were.

But The Star has learned Crs Gail Sheriff, Barry Corbett and David Cox are the ones whom 2021 has in its sights.

Dr Woods unsuccessfully stood for mayor in 2007, securing 31.4% of the vote to Bob Parker's 45.7%. She is not standing for mayor this year - instead, she is seeking the Labour candidacy for the Wigram electorate at the next general election.

All of the current city councillors have confirmed they will stand again this year, with the exception of deputy Mayor Norm Withers, who is retiring from local politics, and Bob Shearing, who is undecided at this stage.

2021 polled poorly in the 2007 election.

Dr Woods believed that happened because of sitting councillors' name recognition for voters, combined with a low voting return.

Forty-two percent of eligible voters voted.

"Where we did get new councillors elected was where councillors were retiring ... People who have name recognition have an advantage," Dr Woods said.

"We're running grassroots community people. They are not radio presenters, they are not media personalities. It is a hard ask but it's not one we are going to give up on."

She said there had already been a lot of interest from "great, exceptional, and talented" potential 2021 candidates, but she was not yet in a position to "name names".

They would be announcing their candidates as soon as the selection process was completed, hopefully by May, she said.

"We will be running a hard campaign.

"We are going to be targeting key seats where we see there is an opportunity to get a person elected.

"People don't want councillors who will consistently vote in favour of things that are not in the interest of the community."

She said the $17 million deal with developer Dave Henderson, cuts to community funding, the proposed music school at the Arts Centre and the 24% council rent rise that was later overturned by the High Court were examples.

"There's not enough transparency on Tuam St," she said.