RSH: Clarke looks forward to “serve my ward”
Posted by Alan Collins on Sunday, May 11th, 2008 at 17:33

Medway’s newest Councillor, Trevor Clarke, has responded to those who voted for him in the Rochester South and Horsted by-election on Thursday, May 8.

Cllr Clarke, who was elected with a majority of 1028, has thanked all those who voted for him and looked forward to serving his ward, drawing inspiration for the next three years from the Old Testament book of Micah:

I am absolutely thrilled to have fought and won this by-election campaign alongside a fantastic team of local councillors and party members marshalled and inspired superbly by our Agent, Andrew Kennedy.

My deepest thanks go to the electorate who turned out in record numbers and have put their trust in me. In considering how best to serve the residents of this great ward we live in as their councillor for the next 3 years I am minded of a verse from the book of Micah in the Old Testament. To the question “what does God require of me” comes the answer “to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly” – I hope to serve my ward in just such a way.

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RSH: Trevor Clarke elected to Medway Council
Posted by Alan Collins on Friday, May 9th, 2008 at 07:14

Conservative Trevor Clarke has been elected to Medway Council following a by-election in Rochester South and Horsted.

Update at 07:53

Cllr Clarke has won a fantastic victory. The Conservative majority in 2007 was 518, whilst Cllr Clarke’s majority last night was almost double that at 1028. The turnout also increased from 37.1% to 41% - very close to the turnout at the London Mayoral election and beating the turnout in 6 of 22 wards in 2007.

A YouGov poll last night showed that the gap between the Conservatives and Labour nationally is 26%. Well, in RSH, the gap is 27.1%, with the Conservatives on 48.7%, Labour on 21.6% and the Lib Dems on 20.2%.

I have updated the results page, list of councillors and added a profile page for Cllr Clarke.

Update on 11/05/08 at 17:16

Full results

	Candidates	Party	Votes
	Trevor Anthony Clarke	Conservative	1847
	Simon Philip Marchant	Green	104
	Viv Parker	Liberal Democrat	767
	Adam Robert William Price	Labour	819
	Brian Christian Ravenscroft	British National Party	257

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RSH: Vote Conservative, vote Clarke!
Posted by Alan Collins on Thursday, May 8th, 2008 at 07:00

If you are a resident of Rochester South and Horsted then I have a simple message: the polls are now open, go out and vote for positive action!

Your Conservative candidate is hard-working local resident Trevor Clarke, whose mentality and principles are firmly rooted in his faith, and whose determination to achieve something positive for the wider community is unwaivering.

Trevor is taking the common sense approach, leaving petty bickering and attacking the opposition to the opposition, and instead campaigning and working hard for you. Conservatives have an established history of getting their hands dirty to improve communities, and Trevor will be no different.

You’re choice is between voting for a candidate from a party wishing to halt the progress of regeneration and improvement across Medway and voting for a candidate from a party with a proven track record of positive action.

So go out and vote for Trevor Clarke in the Rochester South and Horsted by-election today!

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RSH: The “personal” vote
Posted by Alan Collins on Monday, May 5th, 2008 at 19:37

In three days’ time the people of Rochester South and Horsted will go to the polls to elect a replacement for former Councillor John Ward. Over the next couple of days I hope to publish various articles looking at aspects and political theories of the campaign in-depth (unless my Spanish oral preparations get in my way, which is highly likely).

Today I am focusing on the all-important “personal” vote, the group of hardcore supporters who will vote for a particular candidate because they know them well and like them. The “personal” vote transcends party politics - a traditionally Labour voter may vote for two Labour candidates and a Conservative because the Conservative candidate has met with them on a number of occasions to discuss, and successfully resolve, local issues.

There are those who will suggest that the “personal” vote is nothing more than a theory, an idealistic approach which presents a greater opinion of the voters: that they would vote for a person because of their actions and hard work, rather than a party because of the national picture. And there are those who believe that the “personal” vote cannot exist, even in theory.

However, in 2007 the “personal” vote could be seen quite clearly in action. Cllr Sylvia Griffin was new to the ward and polled an impressive 1,518 votes, a healthy plurality of 518 votes over fourth-placed Labour candidate Joyce Esterson.

Continue Reading “RSH: The “personal” vote” »

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RSH: Candidates’ campaigns so far
Posted by Alan Collins on Monday, April 14th, 2008 at 08:12

It’s official, the Rochester South and Horsted by-election will be a straight race between the three main parties, as UKIP, the BNP, the English Democrats and all unaligned independents have decided against fielding candidates. It turns out that the BNP and the Green Party are also fielding Candidates. Apologies for the inaccuracy.

Trevor Clarke is the Conservative Party’s candidate and long-term RSH resident. His campaign so far is focusing on the fantastic work the current conservative councillors have been doing in areas such as education and crime.

Vivienne Parker is the Liberal Democrat’s candidate and twice failed RSH hopeful, coming 7th in 2007 and 2003. Her campaign so far is focusing on the comments made on John Ward’s website, quoting a Daily Mail article.

Adam Price is the Labour Party’s candidate with little prior knowledge of RSH. His campaign so far has involved canvassing the area and talking to residents about Robert Bean Lodge in Pattens Lane.

Over the next couple of weeks I shall continue to monitor the campaigns and report back as accurately as possible. However, from what I can see so far, it is only the Conservative candidate who is local, focusing on important issues affecting RSH residents and not resorting to personal attacks.

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