Let’s get it on | Canterbury News | Local News in Canterbury

Who would you vote for mayor if there was an election this weekend?

That's the question The Star is asking readers as the race for the Christchurch mayoralty starts to heat up.

Wigram MP Jim Anderton's bid to oust Bob Parker has ignited what will be a lively battle leading up to the local body elections in October.

Throw in a sprinkling of independents, former Alliance MP Liz Gordon and possibly former Labour MP and Environment Canterbury chairman Sir Kerry Burke, and the mayoralty contest will be the best in many years.

On Monday, The Star took a snapshot of 50 people to see how they would vote if there was an election now.

Twenty-two people said they would vote for Mr Anderton; 10 for Mr Parker; Dr Gordon (2); Sir Kerry (1) and 14 were undecided.

One person said they would vote for Jo Giles - a candidate in the last election. She hasn't indicated if she will run again.

Mr Anderton said he was surprised to come out ahead of Mr Parker in the poll.

"It's good to know in a snap poll like that I'm going to win, but firstly it's small numbers ... and secondly if it's that today it doesn't mean it will be that in six months time," he said.

"If you get fooled by polls you make a big mistake. The work you do can change polls."

Mr Anderton said he was not concerned about the potential for the left vote to be split between himself, Dr Gordon, and Sir Kerry Burke if he decided to stand.

"I think your poll speaks for itself," he said.

Mr Parker was yesterday not reading too much into the results of the poll either, but conceded he would "rather be number one than number two." He said the poll outcome was probably influenced by Mr Anderton announcing his bid last Thursday.

"It's real high profile right now," he said.

Mr Parker said he would start campaigning about July.

Dr Gordon said she was "upset by the way the media is shaping up Jim to be the big lion."

She labelled Mr Anderton's mayoralty campaign launch at the weekend as "staged" and "all big politics."

"It's high profile and it's going to get him votes. But I don't know if that's what Christchurch needs," she said.

"I think I'd be a better leader than Jim and I would be a better mayor."

Sir Kerry said he would make his decision at a mayoral tilt by Queen's Birthday weekend.