ACT Releases Its Party List For 2011 General Election

Announcing the Party’s list for the 2011 general election today, ACT Party President Chris Simmons said the board was extremely pleased with the strong line-up of high quality candidates.

ACT Party Leader Don Brash is number one on the list with ACT’s current Parliamentary Leader Hon John Boscawen at number two, former Federated Farmers President Don Nicolson at number four and ACT’s Epsom candidate Hon John Banks at number five. The number three position is being held for someone who has the unanimous support of the board, and has strong credentials for the role, but is not currently in a position to confirm availability.  Dr Brash advised that in the meantime he would not be commenting further on this position other than to confirm that the person concerned was not a current MP.

Dr Brash said the list comprised an excellent mix of practical, political and ACT Party experience, with policy nous and youth.

“We have an exceptionally talented group lined-up to campaign for ACT in the upcoming election and I feel privileged to lead them.”

He particularly welcomed the selection of two very impressive young candidates in David Seymour and Stephen Whittington.

David Seymour, 28, who is number six on the list and standing in Auckland Central, has just returned from a role as a senior policy analyst at the Frontier Centre for Public Policy in Canada. He is an also an author and rugby coach. Mr Seymour stood for the ACT Party in the 2005 in the Mt Albert electorate.

Stephen Whittington, 25, who is number eight on the list, works in the tax law team of a corporate law firm. He is also a champion debater who has been named as one of the top ten speakers in Australasia and in 2009 was named as the 15th the best speaker in the world. Mr Whittington has worked as an adviser to Sir Roger Douglas in Parliament.

“David and Stephen are two brilliant young candidates and I very much look forward to working with them in Parliament.

“We are also very pleased to have Kath McCabe and Robyn Stent in the top ten, both are extremely competent women and will be great assets to the ACT Party in Parliament,” Dr Brash said.

Kath McCabe, who is number nine on the list, is a highly-qualified environmental lawyer and company director.

Robyn Stent, who is number ten on the list, is a former Health and Disability Commissioner.

Mr Simmons, who was selected at number seven, said he was very proud to feature on the list and looked forward to campaigning hard for the Party and securing a successful outcome in the election.

“I’ve been honoured to be President of the ACT Party and I’m now doubly honoured to be selected on the list.”

Dr Brash said that with the top-quality list announced he was looking forward to campaigning hard to ensure that as many people on the list as possible get into Parliament.

“This is a tremendous line up and I’m confident we will be a force in the next Government. It’s what the country desperately needs and this is the team to deliver it”, Dr Brash said.

For more information on our top ten, click here.

ACT Party List 2011

1.     Dr Don Brash

2.     Hon John Boscawen

3.     TBC

4.     Don Nicolson

5.     Hon John Banks

6.     David Seymour

7.     Chris Simmons

8.     Stephen Whittington

9.     Kath McCabe

10.   Robyn Stent

11.   John Thompson

12.   John Ormond

13.   Lyn Murphy

14.   Kevin Moratti

15.   Robin Grieve

16.   Pratima Nand

17.   Dominic Costello

18.   Toni Severin

19.   Richard Evans

20.   Ian Cummings

21.   Gareth Veale

22.   Toby Hutton

23.   Daniel Stratton

24.   Robert Burnside

25.   Hayden Fitzgerald

26.   Alex Speirs

27.   Peter McCaffrey