Ready for Action in Montgomeryshire

August 5, 2010

Last week I was selected as the Conservative Party Candidate to fight next years Welsh Assembly elections in Montgomeryshire.

Over 250 people attended a packed Welshpool town hall last Thursday evening to listen to questions put to myself and two other candidates. The meeting was open to members of the public, you didn’t need to be a party member to attend, and you just needed to be registered to vote in Montgomeryshire.

Interestingly, when former Labour MP John Marek was selected as the Conservative candidate to fight the seat in Wrexham the other day, also one of only three candidates, just 26 people turned up, I would have felt quite disappointed if this was the turnout in Welshpool. That said I of course wish John well and hope that he and I will be working as colleagues next May.

Turnout was high in Montgomershire because all three candidates where local, albeit from different parts of the constituency, and each having friends and family in the community coming out to support. All that said there was much interest, and many with an open mind.

I felt privileged and honored to have been selected. It was a difficult process, when the opposition are also friends who would have made excellent candidates for Montgomeryshire. I am hoping both will have the opportunity as assembly candidates in the other areas.

I had decided that if selected I was intending to fully commit my time to the job of candidate. It is my intention to win next May and to fly the flag for Montgomershire in the Assembly. I am keen to focus on finding solutions to the many problems we face and to listen to peoples concerns.

We need to retain and improve our local services and to find more efficient  ways of delivering services. We need to provide support for local business to combat high unemployment levels. I shall be challenging the Welsh Assembly Government on Montgomeryshire’s poor transport infrastructure, and more importantly on making an announcement on the preferred route and start date for the Newtown Bypass which I believe is crucial to the regeneration of our local economy.

The Welsh Assembly Government has done little for Mid Wales and this needs to change.

4 Comments | conservatives, elections, independent candidates, montgomeryshire conservatives, newtown, transport, welsh assembly, welsh conservatives | Tagged: , , , , | Permalink
Posted by russellgeorge

I’m not on my own

April 7, 2008

I left our meeting this morning feeling so glad that I’ve got the backing of my party, the Welsh Conservatives.

I have the constant support of our parliamentary candidate Glyn Davies and our association chairman Simon Baynes who has just been elected (unopposed) to represent his area on Powys County Council and the Montgomeryshire Conservatives.

Walking into the office this morning, there was a real buzz of being part of a strong team. I couldn’t help but feel sorry for the many “independent” candidates throughout Powys who don’t have the backing of a strong political party.

It is great to be able to phone up the office and get advice on a particular issue, normally from Pam. And if she can’t help, she’ll know someone who can.

On leaving the office this morning I did feel bad that I hadn’t thanked Pam enough for all she’s doing for each of the candidates. Sometimes when you are totally focussed on the campaign, it is difficult to get a moment to properly say thank you.

Surely it makes sense for a county councillor to be part of a wider group, one that has influence in the Welsh Assembly, in London and in Europe? What can an independent councillor do when they face issues that affect our local area but are decided by bodies outside of Powys?

What is more, as well as offering advice, expertise and resources, I know that the more backing I receive from my party, the more of my time will be freed up to devote to the important issues that matter to you.

If I’m privileged enough to be elected, I’ll feel reassured to know that I’m not on my own.

1 Comment | conservatives, independent candidates, issues, montgomeryshire conservatives, powys county council, welsh assembly, welsh conservatives | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by russellgeorge