2011 Clarence By-election Scorecard. Part Five - the wrap up

NSW Nationals candidate Chris Gulaptis ended his personal election campaign in much the same manner as he started it – showing up for photo opportunities with recognisable faces from the Liberal or Nationals camp, doing the minimum number of interviews and sometimes spectacularly going off piste with wild claims. I expect this candidate to lose more votes than he would have if he had not decided to keep the electorate guessing on so many local concerns and broader state issues. While his cynical attempt to ride on the coat tails of an admitted law breaker displayed personal characteristics which may make some voters nervous.

NSW Country Labor candidate Peter Ellem remained consistent in his campaigning – bringing local issues and targeted policy to the fore. Staying on message from the time writs were issued. In fact he was one of only two candidates who seriously attempted to communicate with the electorate.  His ability to talk well in print was probably one of the reasons that the O’Farrell Government delivered a small amount of genuinely new funding for the Clarence electorate in the dying day of the by-election campaign.

NSW Greens candidate Janet Cavanaugh displayed a passion and commitment throughout her campaign and an engagement with community which should gain some additional traction with voters. I suspect that The Greens decision to place mining on the agenda from Day One will strike a chord within many local communities. Janet was the only candidate besides Ellem who seriously attempted to communicate with the electorate and not just throw slogans and sound bites around. Like Ellem she identified important issues and stayed on message - though she was possibly slightly more responsive to community feedback.

As for Independents Wade Walker and Stewart Scott-Irving, along with Christian Democratic Party candidate Bethany Camac, Outdoor Recreation Party candidate Clinton Mead and Australian Democrat candidate David Robinson – they ignored almost every opportunity to fully explain themselves to the electorate. Somewhat mistakenly they all appeared to rely too heavily on Meet the Candidates nights in an electorate where travel distances are an issue for many. Their responses to The Daily Examiner Q&A were too little and too late for any effective dissemination. None of these candidates door knocked in my street or mailed out literature which reached my letterbox. Therefore (with Walker being the exception because he was already known with regard to one local issue) they remain virtual ballot paper ghosts to date.

Assessment:

1. Chris Gulaptis – despite the contentious televised campaign ads this lacklustre campaign sees him losing scorecard ground since last week.

2. Peter Ellem – proved that a strong candidate can make an incumbent state government react, thus improving the funding bottom line for the Clarence electorate. His score improves considerably.

3. Janet Cavanaugh – punched above her weight throughout and treated the electorate with the respect it deserves. Her score increases.

4. Wade Walker – probably needs to work out a realistic election campaign strategy if he intends to stand for office again. Although his past online presence will always be there to haunt him. His score remains static.

5. Bethany Camac – perhaps it’s time her party rethought who might represent it at future elections. No movement in her score.

6. Clinton Mead – despite a late Facebook page creation and a bizarre Q&A response he remained Clinton Who? until the end. No score change.

7. David Robinson – another whose party needs to rethink its pre-selection process. No score change.

8. Stewart Scott-Irving – one of the disadvantages of the democratic process it that it throws up serial candidates who turn almost non-existent campaigning into an art form. No score change.

Rolling Scorecard*

Gulaptis -4

Ellem 5

Cavanaugh 5
Wade Walker 0.5
Bethany Camac -3

Clinton Mead -2

David Robinson -0.5

Stewart Scott-Irving -0.5

* This scorecard is predicated on a -5 to 5 range of possible scores