I received an email this afternoon from the Conservative candidate in the other Newton Abbot ward asking me to retract what he called a misleading statement in my election address, which states that “at the time of printing” I was the only candidate living in Newton Abbot, let alone the ward. That has subsequently been confirmed…I am the only candidate living in the Newton Abbot South ward who is standing for election to represent that ward. No retraction from me on that point, or any other statement in my address. I simply do not believe in telling lies or “distorting the truth”.
I think the Conservatives have a nerve. The current County Councillor representing Newton Abbot North has lived in France for the last three years and the local Newton Abbot Conservative Party web page still says she lives in Newton Abbot!!! The sheer hypocrisy takes some beating!
I stand by every word written in my election leaflets…every word!
The question of course is , “Does it matter where someone lives?” Well, yes I think it does. I wouldn’t go so far as to say a candidate has to live in the ward, but I think if you are seeking election to a ward in Newton Abbot you should live in the town, because in that way you are experiencing the same problems as all other residents and are on hand at all times to share problems and be contacted by locals. If you live outside the town it doesn’t matter how many times you might visit, it simply is not the same as residing in a place.
I have three opponents at the election on May 4th. One lives in Teignmouth, one in Shaldon and one in Ipplepen. I say again, I am the only candidate actually living in the town.