News | Local elections
downsmail.co.uk Call for council independents
TWO independent borough councillors have urged local residents to stand for office unshackled by party political ties.
Husband and wife Cllrs Tom and Janetta Sams, who represent Harrietsham and Lenham, say worthy potential candidates for election on May 6 can be found among the many who have volun- teered during the COVID-19 crisis. The Sams’ opposition to the 4,000 “garden village” at Lenham Heath proposed by “master devel- oper” Maidstone Borough Council has put them at odds with the Lib- eral Democrat leadership and se- nior officers at the authority. Their two votes helped Lib Dem
leader Martin Cox form an admin- istration in 2019, with the help of Labour and two independents. Although the Sams (pictured) are unlikely to back Cllr Cox again, they have little faith in the Conservative opposition either. Cllr Janetta Sams said: “Through this crisis, we have found new communities evolving, volunteers and workers showing compassion and caring for the most vulnerable around them. “Amongst these people there could be potential community leaders. The vaccination process has shown us all what can be done in these difficult times.” “We ask them to come forward and offer the skills they have to
stand for election for Maidstone Borough Council, as independent thinking candidates for the elec- tions in May.”
She said it was important democracy is not “hampered” by the pandemic and that postal vot- ing will play a huge role in the out- come.
Although the Liberal Demo- crat/Labour/independent alliance is in charge, the Tories have a small numerical advantage, but in- sufficient to form an administra- tion.
Cllr Tom Sams said: “Given the current options, and how things are shaping, we personally have
little faith in either. There is a wafer-thin line between them. Cllr Cox, the council leader has talked about ‘the right people making the right decisions’, but if he is wrong on both counts, what happens then? In more than 20 years as a councillor, I cannot remember a time when there has been greater need for change. Enough is enough.” Two independent councillors seeking re-election are Fay Gooch (Barming and Teston) and Steve Munford (Boughton Monchelsea and Chart Sutton). Cllr Gooch is currently part of the ruling alliance and deputy leader to Cllr Cox.
Three seats in Relief road a hot topic
Labour sights LABOUR has targeted three seats on both the borough council and county councils. Patrick Coates hopes to retain Fant, Dan Wilkinson will try to take Park Wood from the Tories and unseat independent Eddie Powell in Shepway south with Maureen Cleator as its candidate. Mr Coates and Paul Harper will
be trying to pick up two seats in the county division of Maidstone central and Mr Wilkinson is con- testing Conservative Gary Cooke’s berth in Maidstone south east.
A spokesman said: “We believe
we are in a good position to win our Maidstone target seats which would increase the size of the (MBC) Labour group from the current four to six and would mean that Labour will continue to hold the balance of power.”
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FORMER Mayor and Lib Dem borough councillor David Naghi will take on Tory Gary Cooke for the county council seat in Maid- stone south east. Cllr Naghi, who represents
East ward, will fight on a number of issues including the need for a Leeds-Langley relief road. Cllr Naghi said: “Gary’s been
talking about the relief road for a long time, but what has he or the Conservative-run Kent County Council done to make it happen? “Of course, I would support
any action that will help to ease the terrible traffic problems in Willington Street and in Leeds and Langley.” He also accused a previous
Tory borough administration of being responsible for putting the controversial Otham housing proposal into the Local Plan.
THE KEY DATES
ELECTIONS will take place in 19 borough council wards. The notice of election is due to be displayed on March 19, with nominations to be completed by April 8. The Electoral Commission will
be updating the paperwork due to recent legislative changes and these will be reflected in nomina- tion packs from MBC’s electoral services team. Postal vote applica- tions can also be obtained from the team. Information for prospective
candidates and agents will be available via the MBC website.
VOTING BY POST
TO GET your postal vote, call MBC on 01622 602000, and ask for registration services. When con- nected choose option 2 for postal and proxy voting. Your borough or county councillor can assist.
BOROUGH SEATS
THE current state of the Liberal Democrat-led borough council, with 55 seats, is as follows: CONSERVATIVE 22 LIBERAL DEMOCRAT 21 LABOUR 4
INDEPENDENTS 4 MAIDSTONE INDEPENDENTS 2 SEATS VACANT 2
Still gaps to
be lled in THE Liberal Democrats have not yet fielded a full slate of candi- dates in either the borough or county elections.
There is no one standing in Barming and Teston, which could allow prospective mayor, Cllr Fay Gooch, an easy passage. Fant, where Labour is favourite, is not currently being contested, and neither is true blue Bearsted and North Downs. At county level, Paul Carter’s seat in Maidstone rural north is not contested and in Maidstone rural south, where Tory Lottie Parfitt-Reid and Eric Hotson will fight for the Conservative vote. The Green Party intends to tar-
get Bridge ward, where candidate Donna Greenan is a campaigner. In the county election, the Greens are hoping to pick up five seats.
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