This week Jill Lloyd, wife of the late Kāpiti Coast District councillor Tony Lloyd, won the by-election to fill a seat on the Waikanae Community Board.
One of four candidates, Jill Lloyd won the seat with 1924 votes to second place Jeremy Seamark’s 1163.
Jill Lloyd’s husband Tony Lloyd died aged 67 in November after suffering a stroke following hip surgery. Mr Lloyd had been a long serving member of the Waikanae Community Board and was elected as the Kāpiti Coast District Council’s Waikanae Ward councillor at the last election. He was replaced as councillor in a by-election by close friend and Waikanae Community Board chair Michael Scott.
Only days before his death, he celebrated his 25th wedding anniversary with Jill Lloyd, herself the recipient of a donated liver nearly a decade ago.
On Wednesday, Jill Lloyd said she felt privileged to win the seat, which would give her a chance to continue work on issues her husband was passionate about.
“It’s bitter-sweet, and Tony sits on my right shoulder the whole time. He’s there, and he’ll be there forever, and I run lots of things past him.”
Jill Lloyd said she was looking forward to the challenge – and starting her new life after her husband’s death.
That death came after Jill Lloyd had undergone liver surgery and beaten ongoing problems from her transplant.
“It was only a week after we’d been told my last operation was hugely successful, and Tony and I were just speechless.”
Lloyd said she would place fresh flowers on her husband’s grave when she visited this weekend.
