The first news of a candidate for the 2013 local council elections hits our inbox. This in from Jim Moody from the IoW Constituency Labour Party. Ed
Isle of Wight Labour Party is pleased to announce that our candidate for Ventnor West in the May 2013 county council elections will be Ventnor resident Stewart Blackmore.
In agreeing to stand for the Labour Party, this is what Stewart had to say, “I have lived in Ventnor for 30 years with my wife Margaret who is a care worker looking after adults with special needs.
Understand problems faced by Residents
We have two grown-up children, one of whom is a qualified nurse, so I like to think that we have a very good idea of the problems that many people have in Ventnor West. I also manage the local golf club, which is in the Ward.
“I have decided to offer myself for election as your County Council representative in the 2013 elections after witnessing the way that the present Tory led Council has treated you all as Council tax payers over the last few years. During this time they have decimated social care, local libraries, a perfectly good school, local public toilets and been complicit in giving away the Winter Garden and Botanic Garden at give-away prices; in effect privatising them with absolutely no guarantee the we local residents will be able to afford to use them in future.”
Council’s actions were not what local people wanted
He continued, “This has all happened with the complete agreement and acquiescence of Cllr Scoccia, your present (Tory) County Councillor. You may think, as I certainly do, that these actions were not what local people wanted, nor do they reflect the views of the majority of Ventnor West residents. In carrying out these actions, the Tory Council managed to spend most of the millions of pounds in reserves that they found on taking office.
“You might think that, as the Chancellor is fond of saying, they would have ‘fixed the roof while the sun was shining’, but no. You may also think, as I do, that in plundering these reserves that services would have got better instead of worse, but this money was completely wasted in hair brained and useless dogma.”
Hope to visit all Ventnor West residents
“I intend to visit you all during the coming weeks and months to find out what YOU want in your representative and then to pledge to work with you in representing those views in Council if elected in 2013.
“My pledge to you will be VENTNOR FIRST. If I am elected and before I am asked to vote on any resolution, my question will be – how does this benefit my constituents?”
