The gloves are off

It seems that the gloves are off at Manukau City - this from this morning's Herald:

Two Manukau City councillors at the forefront of attacks on Mayor Len Brown's credit card spending have been revealed to be sticklers for claiming expenses.

One claimed reimbursement for an expense of less than $2.

Papers released under the Official Information Act show city councillor Dick Quax - an Olympic and Commonwealth Games medallist - claimed $1.54 for travelling to a meeting 2km from his house.

He is also recorded as claiming $11.20 for driving to a speed-reading course.

Mr Quax is yet to pay $1500 for a two-day resource management course which he failed to attend in 2008.

But he told the Herald he had requested an invoice and was intending to repay the council.

Fellow councillor Jami-Lee Ross claimed $14 for driving to an Anzac Day ceremony in 2008.

And then it all gets put into context:

The two are also among the highest-paid councillors, but there is no suggestion their claims were improper or outside council rules.

Both councillors have been highly critical of Mayor Brown's credit card spending, which included use of his council card to buy personal items.

And both are standing in the right-wing Citizens and Ratepayers ticket at the first Auckland Council elections in October.

Their group is campaigning against Mr Brown, who has a lead in opinion polls over Auckland City Mayor John Banks in the race to be Super City mayor.

Ah, of course. It seems as though David Lewis has been busy over the last few days, doing what he does best; drip-feeding information to a selected journalist so that the "desired" story appears to be from a neutral source.

In the meantime, WhaleOil wonders if Len Brown will make good on his promise to resign if he is forced to reveal the names of his fellow diners at Volare. He notes that Brown is OBLIGED by Council policy to make disclosure, and has filed a LGOIMA request. The ball's in Len's court; put up or honour your promise Len!