Four candidates for Southwater by-election
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Ian Howard, who was one of three Conservative councillors representing Southwater, died in late August and a by-election has been called to choose his successor for Thursday November 10.
Of the 43 current Horsham district councillors, 37 are Conservatives, four are Lib Dems, and there are two independents.
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Hide AdThe candidates are, in alphabetical order by name of party, listed here.
Conservative
The Conservatives have chosen Billy Greening, who has lived in the village for his whole life, as their candidate.
He went to both Southwater Infants and Junior schools before moving on to Horsham’s Tanbridge House School and The College of Richard Collyer.
He has been a member of Southwater Parish Council since 2015, and works in a business development team for a global company which operates prisons throughout the country.
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Hide AdMr Greening said if elected he would promote community life in the village, oppose unplanned development, and champion Southwater’s needs.
Labour
Labour’s candidate and father of three Kevin O’Sullivan is asking the people of Southwater to ‘vote Labour for a change’ and experience the difference he argues a Labour councillor would make.
Mr O’Sullivan is a property lawyer working for a firm of solicitors in Tonbridge, has campaigned for the Living Wage in Horsham and is a member of Horsham Amnesty.
He said he would stand up to developers pushing for large-scale housebuilding providing little or not benefits for residents, and would be a strong voice for Southwater, holding regular surgeries.
Liberal Democrat
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Hide AdLiberal Democrat candidate Richard Greenwood, who lives in Barns Green with his wife Kasia and two young children, has worked in the charity sector for more than ten years, with charities such as Age Concern and CAFOD, and now works for the Jesuits in Wimbledon.
He and his family attend St John the Evangelist Church in Horsham. Mr Greenwood said there was a need for a liberal voice at every level of government, and argued for the need for more affordable housing and access to quality education for everyone.
UKIP
UKIP candidate Uri Baran, who lives in Slinfold and has a degree in electronic engineering, set up and ran his own small business but now works for a major IT company.
He said is a firm believer in democratic accountability and that politicians are there to represent the needs of voters, not to make a career for themselves.
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Hide AdThe deadline to register to vote in the by-election is Tuesday October 25.
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