Are You Going To Stand As A Councillor?

Elections to pick a new set of Wrexham Councillors may be 280 days away, but steps are underway to prepare the ground for the elections.

Over thirteen grand a year, free town centre parking, a free iPad or similar it seems so easy – but could you campaign and win an election, take the training and participate in daytime meetings with lots of new and often dull details to absorb?

On top you get to ask questions but may not get answers, with larger decisions taken elsewhere that you get the blame and perhaps abuse for. You may have to vote to cut something locally as the finances are no longer there, or see your power nullified due to the make up of the Council.

Would you be a Councillor who turns up to meetings and focuses on scrutiny, or more a hands on local person who is often one of the first ports of call for residents problems? Would you be going around to someones house with a screwdriver to fix something, rather than moving the problem on elsewhere? Perhaps you could do both!

If this gives you food for thought there will be 52 vacancies across Wrexham in under a year and political parties are already on maneuvers looking to assemble their candidate lists with preparatory work underway. Some individuals who are likely to stand are upping their profiles on and offline, with sudden interests being shown in odd areas laying the groundwork for longer campaigns.

There is already word a handful of existing Councillors will not be restanding, opening space for guaranteed new blood. Some members were previously elected under now discarded party colours so there could be interesting battles if they restand against a new candidate from their old party, or perhaps deals will be done.

The Wrexham Labour Party recently challenged people to ‘Get involved! Stand up, don’t stand by’ and have already held an event for prospective candidates:

We’re writing/emailing members about information evening about for candidates in the local elections in 2017. Event: Mon 18 July 7pm.

— Wrexham Labour Party (@WRX_Labour) July 12, 2016

The Conservatives are also conducting similar groundwork:

Would you like more information about becoming a #Wrexham Conservative Councillor? Just DM us or check out our Facebook page

— WrexhamConservatives (@ConservativeWxm) July 18, 2016

July has also seen Plaid Cymru ask the question “Have you thought about standing for Wrexham council?” locally, writing a blog post that says, “Plaid Cymru Wrexham are currently in the process of selecting candidates for the 2016 council elections. We’ve had more interest than ever before and although we’ve already selected some candidates, we’re keen to make sure as many people as possible have the opportunity to get involved.”

There is also talk of the elections in May seeing a range of new independent candidates not affiliated with any party, as well as rumours of a loose ‘Wrexham Party’ group putting people forward, however it remains to be seen if the plans come to fruition.

Back in 2012 before the last set of local elections Wrexham Council held an informal information evening in the January before the elections to give an insight to the responsibility of Councillors but also the support available, it is expected a similar event will be held in the new year.

There is a very long PDF here on the Council website that lists the results from back in 2012, which will show you who stood in a particular ward, who got what votes, and who won – and perhaps most interestingly how close the vote was.

In some cases you only need to persuade around 180 people to vote for you and you could win….!

Will you be at the election count in nine months time to see if you have been elected?