Candidates line-up for elections

NOMINATIONS close today for next month’s borough council elections at Warrington and the political parties have been announcing some of the the names of candidates.
In Warrington South, Labour has revealed its full team of candidates for the May 3 elections.
In Bewsey and Whitecross, Cllr Jeff Richards – a former Mayor of Warrington – will be seeking re-election.
Other candidates are:
Appleton: Paul Carter, a retired police officer who lives in the Cobbs area.
Grappenhall and Thelwall: Mark Littler, a Thelwall resident and academic who has recently completed a visiting fellowship at Harvard University.
Great Sankey South: Tony Williams, a former Cheshire County Councillor and Warrington Borough Council member; now retired, Tony previously worked for Ford and Jaguar-Landrover at Halewood.
Hatton, Stretton and Walton: John Park, a retired schoolteacher.
Lymm: Su Williams, a local community volunteer, best known for her work at Lymm Youth and Community Centre and for hosting the popular annual “Art in the Garden” as part of Lymm Festival.
Penketh and Cuerdley: Allin Dirir, has lived in Penketh with his wife Cllr Linda Dirir for 42 years, a Penketh Parish Councillor for 12 years who is also chairman of Penketh Events Committee which organises the Annual Penketh Carnival and Firework Display.
Stockton Heath: Laurence Murphy, a high street solicitor and Stockton Heath resident.
Whittle Hall: Will Hughes, the youngest candidate at 22, is a Chapelford resident, former Salford University student and an aspiring school teacher.
In Warrington North, Labour have announced that Chris Vobe will be contesting the Culcheth, Glazebury and Croft seat and and Billy Lines Rowlands the Poulton North seat.
Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats have announced that two existing councillors in Warrington North are to seek re-election.
Cllr Sandra Bradshaw won a hard-fought by-election in Poulton North in the autumn, following the tragic death of former Lib Dem councillor Colin Oliver, and will be fighting again. She is a parish councillor and has chaired the North East Warrington Credit Union for 10 years and been a director for 17 years.
Cllr David Earl has been selected to stand again in Westbrook. He has represented the area on the borough council for the last eight years and has been a parish councillor since 2003. He was a civil engineer and has been a school governor and a member of a number of community organisations. He is a trustee of the Stepping Stones project which is dedicated to assisting the homeless and rough sleepers.
Last month, the Liberal Democrats announced a number of other candidates. They are: Bewsey and Whitecross: Judith Wheeler; Penketh and Cuerdley: Tim Price; Stretton, Hatton and Walton: Dave Hockenhull; Appleton: Brian Axcell; Stockton Heath: Ann Raymond; Great Sankey South: Roy Smith: Grappenhall and Thelwall: Ted Finnegan; Whittle Hall: Cllr Kevin Reynolds.
The full list of candidates will not be known until after nominations close at midday and have been collated by election officials.