Carmen’s most remarkable public performance came in 1977, when she stood for mayor of Wellington at the instigation of a committee led by property developer Bob Jones. Her campaign – featuring the double entendre slogan, ‘Get in behind!’ – pushed the accepted parameters of local-body politics. Carmen’s policies included extending bar opening hours, lowering the drinking age, and making sex work legal. Homosexual law reform and the decriminalisation of abortion were also on her agenda. Carmen thrived on the publicity, appearing in glamorous ball gowns throughout the campaign. She regularly made appearances in Wellington city, waving from the backseat of a limousine. Michael Fowler won the election; Carmen came fourth, with 1,686 votes but succeeded in enlivening the election.
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