Len Brown
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Len Brown | |
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Mayor of Manukau
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office October 2007 |
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| Preceded by | Barry Curtis |
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| Majority | 14,000 |
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| Born | 1 October 1956 Taumarunui |
| Spouse(s) | Shirley Anne Inglis |
| Children | Three daughters |
| Alma mater | University of Auckland |
| Profession | Lawyer |
| Website | www.lenbrownformayor.co.nz |
Len Brown (born 1 October 1956, Auckland, New Zealand[1]) is the current mayor of Manukau, New Zealand and a former lawyer and city councillor. He was elected mayor of Manukau in October 2007, the second time he ran for that office.
[edit] Career
He was born in Taumarunui, and his family moved to Otara when he was seven years old.[2] He attended Mayfield Primary, then Papatoetoe Intermediate and went to secondary school at De La Salle College. A lawyer by profession, Brown was a high profile partner at Wynyard Wood, and co-founded the Howick Free Legal Service. He was first elected to the Manukau City council in 1992, and continued as councillor until 2004 when he did not run for re-election.[1] He was also the chairperson of the Counties Manukau Health Council from 1998. Brown first ran for mayor of Manukau in 2004, and narrowly lost to long serving mayor Sir Barry Curtis; he lost by fewer than 600 votes. Brown had considered requesting a re-count due to the closeness of the vote, but decided that he had not been close enough to warrant it.[3] Despite his affiliation with the New Zealand Labour Party, Brown did not run for election in the 2005 General Election, and instead returned to working for Wynyard Wood.[4]
Brown announced his candidacy for the Manukau Mayoralty in 2006,[5] Barry Curtis announced that he would not be running for re-election, and Brown's main opposition were former Olympic runner Dick Quax and radio personality Willie Jackson. Brown resigned from Wynard Wood in 2007 to focus on his candidacy full time. In August 2007, both Quax and Brown were polling "neck and neck".[6] Brown ran on several policies, including; capping rates at the cost of inflation, increasing public transport, and working with youth in the region.[7]
Brown won election in October 2007 with more than 32,000 votes; his next closest rival Dick Quax had less than 18000.[8] He was officially sworn in on 26 October 2007 at the Manukau City Council hall.[9]
Brown is married to Shirley Anne Inglis, and has three children; Samantha, Olivia, and Victoria.[1]
On 31 May 2008 he suffered a massive heart attack, while at a music awards ceremony. The condition arose from a previously unrecognised congenital heart problem and Brown was admitted to Auckland Hospital.[10] Brown had successful heart bypass surgery two days later and made a full recovery, returning to mayoral duties after a few months.[11]
In August 2009, Brown stated[12] he would run for the mayoralty of the combined Auckland "super-city" in the Auckland mayoral election, 2010.[13]. Brown announced his candidacy in front of more than 300 supporters at Sorrento in the Park, One Tree Hill, Maungakiekie. His campaign speech focused on delivering public transport, public ownership of the region's public assets, environmental protection, economic and social development
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Udanga, Romy (1 September 2009). "Brown goes for top job". North Shore Times. http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/north-shore-times/2819496/Brown-goes-for-top-job. Retrieved 3 September 2009.
- ^ "about len". http://www.lenbrownformayor.co.nz/about-len/. Retrieved 3 September 2009.
- ^ English, Philip (2004-10-15). "News all good for Sir Barry; ELECTIONS: After days of uncertainty, Sir Barry Curtis is confirmed as Manukau City Mayor". New Zealand Herald. p. A12.
- ^ English, Philip (2004-10-13). "Candidate clings to hope; Len Brown fought for Manukau's mayoralty and isn't admitting defeat". New Zealand Herald. p. A11.
- ^ Brown, Ken (2006-08-18). "Len Brown Announces Manukau Mayoralty Candidacy". scoop.co.nz. http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK0608/S00188.htm. Retrieved 2007-10-26.
- ^ "I MADE FOUR predictions on the upcoming mayoral elections earlier this year". New Zealand Herald. 2007-08-27.
- ^ "Brown shares his ideas". theaucklander.co.nz. http://www.theaucklander.co.nz/news/story.cfm?storyID=3752871. Retrieved 2007-10-26.
- ^ Taylor, Phil (2007-10-17). "Len Brown wins Manukau mayoralty". times.co.nz. http://www.times.co.nz/cms/front_page_feature/2007/10/art100018140.php. Retrieved 2007-10-26.
- ^ Haka, James (2007-10-26). "Ovation as Brown sworn in". nzherald.co.nz. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10472198. Retrieved 2007-10-26.
- ^ "Manukau's Mayor Len Brown collapses after massive heart attack". The New Zealand Herald. 1 June 2008. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10513706.
- ^ "Mayor Len Brown - life after the last rites". The New Zealand Herald. 28 February 2009. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10559155&pnum=0.
- ^ "Manukau's Len Brown set to run for supercity mayor". 3News. 30 August 2009. http://www.3news.co.nz/Manukaus-Len-Brown-set-to-run-for-supercity-mayor/tabid/209/articleID/118905/cat/87/Default.aspx.
- ^ "Len Brown puts hat in ring for super city mayoralty". The New Zealand Herald. 30 August 2009. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10594141.
[edit] External links
- Len Brown website [1]
