新西兰英语 784 Two candidates for mayor in Christchurch

 　　Lianne Dalziel today announced that she was a candidate for mayor of Christchurch. Mayor Bob Parker also plans to stand as a candidate for mayor so Christchurch people will have a choice of two strong people. This will make the local body elections in November a bit more exciting than usual.

　　We have local body elections every 3 years when we vote for members of local bodies or organisations. These local bodies include the mayor, city council, community councils and hospital board. Usually it is a postal² vote – we vote at home and post the voting papers back to the council where they are counted.

　　Bob Parker has been mayor now for nearly 6 years. He would like another 3 years. At the end of his first 3 years, he nearly lost the election to Jim Anderton, an MP. Jim Anderton said he would be able to do both jobs. However, just at that time, Christchurch had the first earthquake and local people could see that it was impossible to do two jobs. After the earthquake, Bob Parker became very popular. He used to be a TV presenter³ so he is very confident in front of the media.

　　Lianne Dalziel is a Labour MP. She has been an MP for 20 years and has been a Minister. She was a lawyer before going into Parliament. Her home was in the east of Christchurch, the red zone where houses are now being demolished⁴. She knows a lot about what it is like for Christchurch people living in houses that need repair. She said she will resign from Parliament in October before the local body elections in November.

　　Vocabulary

　　?candidate – a person who stands for election

　　?local body – local organisation¹

　　?TV presenter – he presented many popular shows

　　?media – TV, radio, newspapers, magazines

　　?demolished – pulled down

1 organisation   

n.组织，安排，团体，有机休

参考例句：

• The method of his organisation work is worth commending.他的组织工作的方法值得称道。
• His application for membership of the organisation was rejected.他想要加入该组织的申请遭到了拒绝。

2 postal   

adj.邮政的，邮局的

参考例句：

• A postal network now covers the whole country.邮路遍及全国。
• Remember to use postal code.勿忘使用邮政编码。

3 presenter   

n.（电视、广播的）主持人，赠与者

参考例句：

• Most people think being a television presenter is exciting.很多人认为当电视节目主持人是一件刺激的事情。
• The programme dispensed with its most popular presenter.这个节目最受欢迎的主持人被换掉了。

4 demolished   

v.摧毁( demolish的过去式和过去分词 )；推翻；拆毁（尤指大建筑物）；吃光

参考例句：

• The factory is due to be demolished next year. 这个工厂定于明年拆除。
• They have been fighting a rearguard action for two years to stop their house being demolished. 两年来，为了不让拆除他们的房子，他们一直在进行最后的努力。