Beyer exits mayoral race

MATTHEW STEWART | 22nd August 2007

Georgina Beyer has pulled out of the Carterton mayoral race, saying it is time to move on from politics.

In June, the Times-Age reported Ms Beyer's intention to stand for the Carterton mayoralty but since then the high-profile politician has changed tack.

"It's been an angsting decision but I think it's time to let go and stand aside."

Ms Beyer, a former Labour MP for Wairarapa, began a year of political flip-flops when she resigned from Parliament in February, after having earlier said she would leave and then changing her mind.

Before putting her hand up for Carterton's top civic job she had indicated a strong desire for the Wellington mayoralty, only to rescind that desire and pull out again in May this year.

Ms Beyer said one of the factors weighing in the decision not to run in the Carterton mayoralty was the apathy of her former constituents.

After a period of personal reflection she had "sounded out" the Carterton community who were largely disinterested in her bid for a third term as the town's mayor, she said.

Financially it was not possible to mount a genuine campaign and anything less would be an insult to the Carterton constituency, she said.

"It would smack of arrogance to just put your name forward and then do nothing," she said.

However, Ms Beyer said she is satisfied with her contribution to the region and it is now time to explore a new life and career outside elected office.

"I've got to move on and I've made the break there will be people who'll be disappointed," she said.

"I've had 14 years of high-level elected representative politics for Carterton and Wairarapa. I've made a good contribution I'd like to think but there are some fresh faces around now who are coming through," she said.

Ms Beyer, who has twice been the town's "number one citizen", reached the decision not to stand for Carterton again after some rhetorical self-examination.

"It's scary, why am I stepping into the abyss? Why have I left Parliament? Is my commitment as good as it was?" she said.

She also expressed reservations about incumbent Carterton Mayor Gary McPhee, who now faces only one other opponent, Kerry Leighton in his re-election bid.

"Gary is popular on one level but is not necessarily winning confidence. I don't think he knows yet how to engage with the political process in Wellington," she said.

She wants to move her focus from elected politics to human rights, a cause she advocated for, both in her time as Carterton's mayor and as MP for Wairarapa in the capital.

Ms Beyer is turning 50 this year and said the time is right for different challenges and that she still has a lot to offer the region outside elected government.

"I've got another two or three careers in me," she said.

"I've been nurtured by two fine recent mayors in Bob Francis and John Read the three of us were very effective at having our voice heard in the Wellington region," she said.

Mr Francis and Mr Read served as Masterton mayor and South Wairarapa mayor respectively when Ms Beyer held the Carterton seat from 1995 to 2000.

Mr Read died suddenly last Monday and Mr Francis is due to step down after 21 years as Masterton's mayor two events that have influenced Ms Beyer's decision to opt out of local politics.

"I had two very experienced men as colleagues on either side. We were a good collegial group, we were united for Wairarapa when it was necessary," she said.

Coming back home to Carterton after resigning from Parliament as a Labour list MP in February has been "grounding", she said.

"I've had positive reflections on who I am and my background."

She heaped praise on Wairarapa's voters: "They are salt-of-the-earth, upfront, honest people who have a strong bond and a sense of reliance on each other in times of hardship," she said.

Her internationally-reported foray into local body politics came "out of left field", she said

"Who elected me? Conservative people, by and large, in a rural electorate. I was upfront about who and what I was they like a bit of chutzpah there was a reciprocation of loyalty," she said.

As the world's first transexual mayor, Ms Beyer said she "certainly broke the glass ceiling and from then on my conduct, politically, was under immense scrutiny I had to set a standard for conduct which earned respect as opposed to being ridiculed or laughed at or having people whisper behind my back.

"I got elected legitimately, fairly, squarely and it was all properly done," she said.

Ms Beyer said she would like to stay in Wairarapa but has to consider future job options that could mean a shift to Wellington or Auckland.

Nominations for local body elections close at noon on Friday.