The partial election of the St Ann Chamber on Thursday, April 10, saw the candidate for the Ruairidh Paton Green Party to ensure victory with 1,059 votes, almost doubled the second place Labor candidate Stephen Tawiah 589.
The new councilor described the victory as a “historical victory” and thanked his party and residents for believing that “St Ann deserves better.”
The partial election of St Ann was triggered by the sudden resignation in February of Labor Councilor Tammy Hymas, who expressed strong criticism of both the new government and the local labor administration.
Cllr Paton recently chosen has said that their priorities include homes and parks, with an approach to people who go out of the municipality.
In statements to the local democracy reports service, Cllr Paton asked the Council to press the Government for rental controls and said he would push his fellow councilors to support him.
Cllr Paton said he had been forced to move to the house six or seven times due to rental increases.
“A landlord can choose to increase races from 30% to 40% in some cases, that has emerged a lot,” he said. “That experience of not feeling that he has control of his home, especially if it is an interest.”
Cllr Paton said that housewives in St Ann also firmly feel about the problem, and many have adult children still at home because houses in the area are not affordable.
He added that the residents in Chedworth House in West Green Road had complained about an increase in service positions, but the buildings were not clean and needed repair.
“That is something I want to turn on under the advice,” he said. “If people pay more, at least the service can be up to it and what people want it to be.”
The frustration around Chestnuts Park lost its green flag status and people who want more collaboration on how money is spent in the park also appeared in the campaign, he said.
Cllr Paton explained that the beneficial organization directed by the Park Community Center, Bridge Renewal Trust, did not have a long -term lease contract, which limited what it could do.
“Definitely because to support them to make sure you have the money they need to put the services they have, which include a food bank,” he said.
Cllr Paton also talked about the broader problem that people felt without locally power. “There is justified anger and frustration and it will be an interesting change for me to be a resident to be a representative.
“I will always have the approach that I also feel these things, I am also angry and frustrated, I also live here.”
The new councilor of the Green Party added that he was interested in instilling power in residents to “take action themselves”, an approach that said he differ from work.
He added: “I don’t want people to see me as a service, I want people to see me as some who work with them to solve the problems they face.
“I discover what we can do collectively to solve problems, and my goal here is not just to help, it is to connect people.
“I will not be forever and really what I would like is for my whole work to end in a place where people can take measures and feel better connected.”
The complete results are as follows:
- Ruairidh Paton (Green Party): 1,059 votes
- Stephen Tawiah (Labor Party): 589 votes
- Felum McGillivray (Conservative and Unionist Party): 83 votes
- David Becham (Liberal Democrats): 70 votes
- David Stratford (reform UK): 69 votes
- David Kaplan (Trade Union and Socialist Coalition): 34 votes
- Tony Hunt (Communist League): 8 votes
