It’s all about painting the town blue, said Simon O’ Connor, MP for Tamaki, and MC at Simeon Brown’s campaign launch on Saturday morning.
Going from the incredible turnout at the Pakuranga MP’s campaign launch on Saturday morning, it seemed like they were doing just that as the heavy downpour didn’t deter National Party supporters from turning up in large numbers.
The mood was upbeat as the Howick Bowling Club was filled with plenty of good-hearted banter and laughter.
A quick-witted O’Connor even joked about invading Brown’s territory with the AMETI project connecting Tamaki to Pakuranga. “We are coming for you Simeon,” he said.
On a more serious note, he addressed around 250 supporters saying, “Those who have failed the party are not the best of us. You are. And secondly, it is important to note that no one should put themselves in front of the party.”
Both O’Connor and Mark Mitchell MP for Rodney spoke about the 29-year- old Pakuranga MP’s political nous.
“Don’t be fooled by his young appearance. He is extremely focussed, capable and will fight for it whether it is for his electorate or at Central Government level,” said Mitchell, former Minister of Defence.
“In six week’s time Simeon will be your Minister for Corrections,” he said as the audience cheered.
Talking about Brown recently campaigning with him and accompanying Mitchell to a correction facility, he shared an anecdote about talking to prisoners.
“After which two of the prisoners came up to me and said we are going to support that guy. We like him. And I said hang on, this is my electorate, you have to vote for me,” he laughed.
Brown, who has been campaigning with Christopher Luxon, National Party candidate for Botany said, “Let’s make east Auckland great again. Let’s practise Socialist Distancing – though at this moment we don’t seem to be practising social distancing in this room.”
Local councillors Sharon Stewart and Paul Young, Howick Local Board member John Spiller, National Party candidate Luxon and candidate for Takanini electorate Rima Nakhle were all there on a busy Saturday morning to support Brown.
However, the little star of the show was baby Anna-Sarah Brown who patiently sat through dad’s speeches and silently chewed on a flyer to keep herself entertained.
