Readers will likely have seen this story on TV One news over the weekend which was a result of Crs Holborow and Buswell running off to Radio NZ and TV One (and probably others) claiming that they would not be attending any candidate meetings such as those organised by Grey Power if David Scott showed up.
They could easily have ascertained from the KCDC electoral officer that David Scott had in fact decided not to continue (but was prevented from withdrawing once his nomination had been approved) and he had told the Grey Power organiser that he would not be attending any meetings. Needless to say, Buswell and Holborow received a rebuke from Grey Power for not asking about the situation before running to the media; however, it is obvious that self-serving “look at me” was their intention in the first place.
In fact, although Buswell and Holborow can’t see it, their behavior has backfired on them as the TV One story is sympathetic to David Scott; he wasn’t demonised by the report and the pair’s fearmongering looked just like fearmongering.
Buswell’s describing of 18-year-old Paekakariki candidate Sophie Handford as “vulnerable” is hardly helpful for Sophie’s chances — as is the case with national politics, local politics is not a place for wimps.
Once candidates start indulging in defaming other candidates in this way it sets a negative tone, turns the public off, and in Kapiti’s case just conjures up the council’s disrepute that was particularly notable during Ross Church’s one term mayoralty.
Angela Buswell may find that some of the many people she has upset are going to give her the same treatment; for example about her closing two shops in Kapiti but having one in Levin — despite what she pretends, Kapiti isn’t business-friendly and she herself is a demonstration of that. We know there are seven councillor candidates who are unhappy with her and Holborow’s behaviour.
The bottom line is that Kapiti will be better off with neither of this pair being reelected — and although we hate to say it, it will be better off if David Scott isn’t either; otherwise this absurd saga which has been harmful for Kapiti’s image is just going to continue.
Below is an email I sent to Ms. Buswell when she and her banshee cabal were threatening Grey Power with a ‘walk-out’ if David Scott showed up. They are worried about ‘public safety’.
Are we seriously expected to believe that Scott is some kind of unchained, rabid predator with an overwhelming urge to pounce on any female within reach?
If these candidates live in a world of such tortured unreality, are they fit for any office or position requiring responsibility and a modicum of intelligence? It was Holborow who claimed I chased her with my walking stick in a crowded council chamber (despite contrary evidence from KCDC’s CCTV footage, from Cllr. Elliott, and from multiple witnesses from the public gallery). She, with the backing of Michael Scott and Penny Gaylor, have thus shown themselves to be, let us say, prone to strange imaginings.
Penny Gaylor and Michael Scott have put in her two-bob’s worth of junk in regard to the ‘walk out’, and subsequently several other candidates who know nothing of the matter, such as Bob McCann.
Guru also jumped on the bandwagon, despite his testimony at court which actually disproved the allegation against David: When asked if David stopped behind Ms Addled, Guru said ‘no’. When asked where David’s hands were, he said’ at his sides’. How does that square with the allegation by Ms. Addled that David stopped behind her, grabbed her by the hips and pushed himself into her for ‘five seconds’, while she was chatting with Guru? He must not have been very attentive.
Email sent to Buswell (unanswered):
Dear Ms. Buswell
I voted for you in the last election, and was pleased at your victory.
However, if you are involved with this threat of walk out in regard to David Scott, having read an indication that you are, I would be interested to know the basis of your negative views on Scott..
Please do not cite the gutter press. I have followed all media accounts. My own views are formed by having attended all days of the trial and other hearings, my reading the documents, including expert medical reports.
I am well aware from personal experience that certain councilors and staff will think nothing of lying to pursue some point, even of a petty nature, and have experienced this in regard to Janet Holborow, aided by Michael Scott, Penny Gaylor et al, who have thus indicated to me exactly the types of person they are, and it is quite disgusting to see them grandstanding on this matter. Hence, I am skeptical when bizarre allegations against someone arise from KCDC, given its record; a record moreover which resulted in Bob McCann asking that KCDC withdraw its (self-designated) title as ‘NZ’s only white ribbon council’.
Might I remind you that the onus in the judicial system is supposedly on the Prosecution to prove a matter beyond reasonable doubt, and that there are multiple levels of evidence that must be satisfied before a jury should convict. I invite you to point out to me precisely where this was done in regard to the Scott matter.
One trusts that elected officials will form an opinion based on independence of mind and diligence in regard to the facts, not on the junk press and hearsay or personal prejudices.
Thank you for your consideration.
K R Bolton
‘Something seriously wrong’ when a candidate so readily defames another by calling him a ‘convicted sex offender’ and saying that an 18 year old would not be safe in his presence.” What sort of low-life smear campaign is this? Ms. Buswell is too ignorant to have answered my questions to her, but eager enough to grandstand on matters about which she knows nothing, and cannot even get the charge correct.
This is on Ms. Buswell’s Facebook Page. An apology and retraction is in order.
“Something seriously wrong with Local Government allowing a convicted Sex offender to be able to stand for this coming election, after losing his seat because of his conviction. There is no protection for an elected member under LG law….and we have an 18 year old female standing…she should be safe around the council table….”
Keep a record with screen shots of all statements she makes. She is setting herself up for a lawyer’s letter and a Code of Conduct complaint if she is reelected.
I guess we are still able to vote for David Scott, call it a protest vote or whatever. Who knows the number of protest votes against this council may total quiet a large number.
You can certainly do that — it will be great if he ranks ahead of Buswell and Holborow who will be 13 and 14 for us respectively. He won’t be in the top five for us, though.
Wow Angela…. I was planning on voting for you as well. And you know, the really sad part about this is how you are taking such an extreme approach that it just looks like you are politicizing this and you don’t even actually care.
Also what is with insulting Sophie Handford on the side? Like fine maybe you think she’s too young, but “vulnerable”!?! Is that appropriate conduct for a to-be-representative of our region? Do you just see all young women as vulnerable and weak?
If a comment like this ever came from a man it would be instantly classified as chauvinism. From you it looks like you are trying too hard to leverage every last voter from the old white population…