Councillors coming out of woodwork as poll looms
Question for county residents: can you name your county councillor? Hmm, I thought not.
Eagle-eyed Leicester Mercury readers can't help but notice the recent volume of stories featuring our usually dormant and invisible county councillors.
A cynical reader might draw a conclusion that their recent media frenzy was linked to the elections in May.
Compare stories such as "Councillors debate concerns about HS2" (Mercury, February 16) with recent stories about the David Parsons affair.
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The usually shy and reclusive political beasts are falling over themselves to comment about issues on their patch, but dither and keep tight-lipped about Parsons's failure to repay the money the council claims he owes it.
The Tory leader of Leicestershire County Council, who toppled Parsons, happens to be the councillor for the area affected by the HS2 plans.
He will no doubt be facing the wrath of his constituents if he doesn't flex his political muscles and mount vocal opposition.
HS2 will happen, because his Government is backing the project.
Rather than seek a station on the route for East Midlands Airport, making the airport more attractive to a wider population and bringing jobs to the county and his electorate, he is taking the not-in-my-bacyard approach, with one eye on the elections in May.
For the record, yes I had to look up who my county councillor was, too.
No doubt I will get the four-yearly knock at the door between now and May, though, to remind me who they are and how vigorously they have been representing me.
Janet Brown, Thorpe Astley.
4 Comments
by Eastonian
Wednesday, February 27 2013, 5:08PM
“Many folk are ignorant about who their Councillors are not just County but City and District as well where applicable.
The fact of the matter is Janet all you need to know is who is yours!!”
by lessurstrebor
Tuesday, February 26 2013, 10:44PM
“I have to say tho election times usually bring out the worst in some.
Usually the lazy ones who stand in key places have they're photo taken and claim their doing something with, for or about it.
quite often completely un-true!
Their easy to spot and you hardly see them again except when there's another photo oppertunity!”
by lessurstrebor
Tuesday, February 26 2013, 10:40PM
“Well I know my two and have spoken to them on a number of occasions!
lovely ladies too.
Ruth Camamile and Janice Richards
Both attend the Parish Council meetings in their area as often as they can or at least send updates for the Parish Council.
Question is do you know what they do? Many don't and many think they get paid huge sums and run about in big cars! It's simply not true!
They are also volunteers that have to be elected (County and Borough)
Parish Councillors are un-paid Volunteers who can be elected or voted on by the Council they're selves if there are not enough Councillors elected to fill the Council posts.
Some do some very good work and fight hard behind the scenes and are forgotten local heroes battling the establishment for their constituents.
If you think you have something to contribute and can spare the odd couple of hours a month go along meet them offer your services. You might surprise yourself!”
by spalding1944
Tuesday, February 26 2013, 8:56AM
“Janet- I have lived in the Braunstone Town/LFE area for over 40 years and have yet to be visited during a general election let alone a local one.Perhaps I will be 'selected' during the next few years !!!”