A more diverse range of representatives is needed on Lichfield District Council, according to one local election hopeful.
Twenty-year-old Jack Andrea will contest the Armitage with Handsacre ward on May 7.
He will be bidding to wrestle one of the three seats away from the Conservatives on polling day, as well as seeing off the challenge of three Labour hopefuls who also have an eye on the ward.
The 2011 poll results saw Richard Cox pick up 911 votes, Thomas Marshall 875 and Martyn Tittley 897 to win control for the Tories, while Labour’s hopefuls Jill Hyden, Steve Hyden and Elaine Moore picked up between 558, 572 and 518 votes respectively,
And although Jack acknowledges that his task will be a tough one to throw a spanner in the works of the mainstream parties, he believes an alternative voice is needed.
“We need more diversity on the council to make it more representative of the society we live in,” he said. “This includes more young people, women and ethnic minorities and not just middle class white males as decisions made have an effect on us all.
“I don’t have the life experience of say a 50 year old, but in some ways I don’t think life experience is essential. It’s useful – but not essential.
“In a sense I do have some experience, experience of local issues and services which I’ve used for myself and understand the areas that need improvement, such as bus services.
“I also think it’s important to have more independent councillors free of political parties. I believe I can use my political neutrality to my advantage.
“Many people are disillusioned with the main parties – myself included – and could view an independent candidate as a alternative choice. In Handsacre with Armitage, we usually only have Labour and Conservative candidates. My aim is to be seen as an alternative.
“I do not believe that the current councillors are engaging their constituents to the best of their abilities and one of my aims during my campaign is to hold conversations with as many voters as possible, making them aware of who I am and what I stand for.”
Jack, who studies education at the University of Wolverhampton, will be hoping to engage a variety of voters, but with youth on his side the chance to get young people to the ballot box is one he hopes to use to his advantage.
And he isn’t buying into the notion that the younger generation are disinterested in politics.
“It may have been the case five years ago at the last election,” he said. “But the majority of people I’ve spoken to who may not understand the system certainly have a strong view and are eager to get down to the polling station – I’ve had loads of positive support from my age group and offers of help.
“Registering to vote is also a barrier because a lot of young people assumed their parents did it under their household which was the case until the coalition came into power. I’ve taken it upon myself to rally round my age group and emphasise how important it is that they cast their vote on May 7.
“For too long my generation has been ignored – tuition fee rises, scrapping of unemployment benefit for under 25s and the extravagant housing crisis. And why? Because we do not vote and the politicians won’t reap any benefits at the polling station.
“It’s time we shook up the system and allowed our voices to be heard. However, the only way that will happen is if we vote because most older adults dismiss us, they tell us we ‘don’t understand’ or ‘we haven’t got the experience’.
“Let’s prove them wrong.”
Canidates standing in the Armitage with Handsacre ward are:
- Jack Andrea – Independent
- Richard Cox – Conservative
- Steve Hyden – Labour
- Tom Marshall – Conservative
- Derek Mellor – Labour
- Elaine Moore – Labour
- Martyn Tittley – Conservative