BACKGROUND TO CASTLE LIB DEM WIN
To explore the voting figures, it is interesting that in Castle the Green vote was down from 451 votes in 2005 for the same candidate to 226 votes in this election. The Conservative vote also dropped from 767 in 2005 down to 267 in 2009, The Labour vote dropped dramatically from 733 in 2005 to 196 votes in 2009. It is an excellent result for the Lib Dems especially as 1) this year’s vote was split between 5 candidates – one more candidate than in the last County Council elections in 2005, and 2) the 2009 turnout was approximately 62% compared to the 2005. It was a low turnout compared to last time when the County elections were held on the same day as the General Election.
Moving on from the numbers to the candidates, Belinda had to campaign against candidates who included a student without family ties, and a retired person without a full-time job who also had the benefit of the incumbency factor because as a sitting City Councillor there was name recognition. Belinda has a big family, a job, and no name recognition before the campaign. Despite slender resources (the Lib Dems are a grassroots party) and despite the Lib Dems contesting 11 seats in this election, by stint of sheer hard work, energy, enthusiasm, volunteer help from all walks of life, and insight into the needs of ALL groups in the community, it was possible to get another councillor for Castle.
Speaking on her birthday, VE Day, Belinda said “This is the best birthday present ever. I am grateful to everyone who worked so hard on this campaign, family and friends all did their bit, new friendships have been made, many people believed in what I was trying to do, others admired the hard graft put in, yet others responded to the fact-based systematic approach and my genuine concern for the local issues that face Castle residents. I look forward to serving, bringing people together, and doing the very best I can for everyone in Castle”.
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