To save LGNZ from going under, Sam Broughton needs to move on

The Taxpayers' Union is calling on defeated former Selwyn Mayor Sam Broughton to stand down as President of LGNZ and prevent more members of the organisation from pulling out and undermining the fiscal viability of the council lobby group.

Preliminary results of the Selwyn mayoralty show Sam Broughton losing in a landslide victory to Lydia Gliddon, with 4156 votes to 15,497 votes.

"LGNZ has becoming overly politicised and mistrusted under Sam Broughton's leadership," said out Taxpayers' Union Executive Director Jordan Williams.

"As we look through the election results it is pretty clear that without wholesale changes at LGNZ, even more councils will likely pull out."

"LGNZ's membership doesn't even cover half of New Zealand's population. As much as we disagree with LGNZ's direction and blatant left-wing activism, even we see that there is a role for a peak-body organisation."

"But fixing LGNZ is unlikely to come from the leadership which got it into this mess. With the electorate so strongly rejecting Mr Broughton, he should fall on his sword and let the newly elected councils who are still members of LGNZ pick a new President."