Three candidates are vying for votes in a Wokingham by-election for the seat of a former council leader.
This September, it was announced that councillor Julian McGhee-Sumner, a Conservative representative for the Wescott East ward on Wokingham Town Council, would be stepping down to move abroad for work.
Cllr McGhee-Sumner had served on Wokingham Borough Council since 2007 and was the council leader from November 2018 to May 2019.
He was removed from his position as a borough councillor for Wescott in the 2019 local elections, being beaten by Liberal Democrat Maria Gee by just 32 votes.
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Now three candidates from the major parties are vying to replace him in a by-election that will be held on Thursday, November 25.
Mike Townend
Mike Townend will defend the seat for the Conservatives. He lives in the town with his wife Erica and they run Martin and Co Estate Agents on Peach Street in the town centre.
He has three adult children, has been a school governor, a Reading Buses director and is currently an ambassador for the Children’s Air Ambulance.
Mr Townend said: “I’ve been thrilled to see the way the town centre has been transformed over the last ten years.
“Like most residents I have been delighted that the regeneration plans have delivered exactly what local people said they wanted to make Wokingham a wonderful town.
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“Over the last few weeks knocking on hundreds of doors, I have enjoyed meeting many residents, heard positive feedback about our beautiful town, and discussed local concerns about crossings, speeding, flooding and the need for a community centre in Montague Park.
“It’s been good to share fantastic news about funding achieved to resolve some of these issues.
“I’m very proud of Wokingham, and of our community. however I know that there is always more that we can do.
“I want to be your new town councillor and continue to improve Wescott East.”
Jane Ainslie
The Liberal Democrats are fielding Jane Ainslie in the hope of taking the seat.
If the party wins the by-election, they will gain overall control of the town council. The group has pledged to continue to work with the other political groups, stating they are ‘proud’ of their record of achieving consensus.
Ms Ainslie said: “I’ve lived in Wokingham for over 20 years raising my daughter and son.
“Following a cancer diagnosis, I left a career in marketing to work for a small charity providing short break respite care for disabled young people for the past 12 years.
“My passion lies in ensuring every Wokingham child has the best start in life and I have a particular interest in the needs of those with special educational needs.
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“Lib Dem councillors have a reputation for hard work, being effective, approachable and – most importantly – they care about our local community.
“That’s why I’m standing as a Lib Dem in the by-election lease give me the opportunity to work alongside my Lib Dem colleagues to use my passion and experience to benefit Wokingham.”
Ms Ainslie stood as the Liberal Democrat candidate for the Norreys ward in the elections this year, but was beaten by Conservative Cllr Phil Cunnington.
Ellie Crabb
Ellie Crabb is standing for the Labour Party.
The candidate now lives in the town centre, having recently moved from the London Road opposite St Crispin’s. Ellie works in Public Relations, currently in the construction sector, and is said to boast a thorough understanding of Wokingham’s housing concerns and the necessity for quality in our built environment and building safety.
She can often be seen participating in community clean-ups organised by councillor Rachel Burgess (Labour, Norreys), as well as discussing residents’ issues via old-fashioned (and Covid-safe) door-knocking.
Like many, she has been working from home throughout the pandemic, and is acutely aware of the need to ensure the town centre and local residential streets and amenities are the best they can be.
Ellie is supporting Wokingham Labour’s campaign to reverse the cut in Universal Credit which has hit working people and the self-employed.
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She also supports the party’s call for a Citizens’ Assembly on the Climate Emergency, judging the Conservative plan to be ‘simply inadequate’.
The party has called for residents to be given far more control over our community’s response to the Climate Emergency.
Ellie hopes to join the Wokingham Labour team of one borough councillor and three town councillors as she believes in standing up for her residents and putting the interests of the people in her area first.
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