The1977 Wellington mayoral election was part of the New Zealand local elections held that same year. In 1977, election were held for theMayor of Wellington plus other local government positions including eighteen city councillors. The polling was conducted using the standardfirst-past-the-post electoral method.
The 1977 mayoralty was notable for the highly publicised candidacy ofCarmen Rupe, a transgenderdrag performer andbrothel keeper. With the support of local businessmanBob Jones, who organised her campaign and wrote her speeches, Carmen's campaign utilised the slogansGet in Behind andCarmen for Mayor[1] and campaigned on a platform tolegalise gay marriage andbrothels, despite neither being local-government matters in New Zealand.[2]
Former mayor SirFrank Kitts attempted a comeback after losing narrowly three years earlier. His candidature took many by surprise with the press expecting Labour to try and rejuvenate. Local businessmanJim Belich was approached, but he declined for personal reasons.[3]Frank O'Flynn also considered standing, but withdrew in favour of Kitts, though O'Flynn stood on the council ticket and was elected. ADominion editorial said of Kitts' candidature "No one knew what Frank Kitts did during his three years in the political wilderness and no one knew why he wanted to come back".[4] His support in the mayoral race fell further, though he was again elected to theWellington Harbour Board where his vote increased.
^Trust: A true story of Women and Gangs.Pip Desmond. 2009. Page 158
^"Carmen Rupe, legend, dies in Sydney".gaynz.com. 2011. Archived fromthe original on 7 January 2012. Retrieved20 December 2011.Transgender goddess and glbt community icon Carmen Rupe has died in Sydney, aged 75, from kidney failure following months of poor health.
^Hogan, Anne (11 February 1986). "Jim Belich tipped for Labour's mayoral bid".The Evening Post.
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