The latest entrant in the contest for the Christchurch mayoralty denies he is having it both ways by also standing as a councillor.
Paul Lonsdale, who is the manager of Christchurch's container mall and also of the Central City Business Association, is standing against Labour's Lianne Dalziel for mayor while at the same time standing as a councillor for the Hagley Ferrymead ward.
Mr Lonsdale says when he called Ms Dalziel on Thursday night to tell her he was standing against her, she questioned why he was running for both offices.
"That was a technique that (former mayor) Garry Moore used to eliminate his opposition from around the table, "Mr Lonsdale says. "I want to be around the table one way or the other, and I think I've got enough to offer as a councillor and certainly a lot to offer as a mayor."
Mr Lonsdale says the city council should consider selling assets that are not profitable to help fund the rebuilding of the city.
