Election special

The by-election follows the recent resignation of Conservative councillor Matt Palmer. Mr Palmer, who was first elected to the council in 2003, is moving to Jersey with his family.

The by-election has been timed to coincide with the police and crime commissioner elections.

There are five candidates in the running for the seat. Listed here is a brief message from each candidate explaining the policies they stand for.

Samuel Howard Fletcher (UKIP)

Samuel Fletcher was born in Bradford in 1991 and grew up in Keighley, where he attended Oakbank comprehensive school.

He was educated at the University of Bradford, reading Politics & International Relations and Social Studies.

Samuel’s political activism began in 2009 when he joined Conser-vative Future, the Conser-vative Party’s youth wing, just a few weeks before starting at university. As an undergraduate at Bradford, he established and became chairman of an on-campus Conser-vative Future society. He was also active within the wider activities of the Tory youth movement all over West Yorkshire, and campaigned for several West Yorkshire Conservative parliamentary candidates during the 2010 General Election.

Samuel said: “In January 2011, I left the Conservatives due to marked disappointment with what the party had actually done since assuming power in 2010, and joined the UK Independence Party.

“I am now very proud to have been selected as UKIP’s candidate to stand up for the people of Wharfedale.”

David Russell Green (Labour)

David Green lives with his wife and young family at Burley-in-Wharfedale.

He is a qualified nurse and currently works in the NHS specialising in public health. David’s long and varied career has provided him with a wide range of professional experience, including the NHS, the private sector and as a nursing officer in the Army where he completed two operational tours.

David said: “Wharfedale is a great place to live and its residents enjoy some of the finest countryside this nation has to offer.

“If elected, I will be a strong voice for local people. Those who have the privilege of representing Wharfedale at any level should campaign effectively on behalf of all residents.

Janet Souyave (Green)

Janet Souyave is a retired doctor and has lived at Burley-in-Wharfedale for about 30 years.

Janet now volunteers with charities, including Barnardo’s, Craven Citizens Advice Bureau, the Sun Lane Nature Reserve and environmental groups. She achieved 15 per cent of the vote in the ward at the last local election.

Janet said: “I am delighted to be contest-ing this by-election for the Green Party.

“I am committed to Green policies as the way to make our neighbour-hoods more sustainable, not just for ourselves but for our grandchildren and their children. I will continue to fight against spending cuts that attack the most vulnerable in society, when these were the people furthest away from the cause of the financial crisis.”

Paul James Treadwell (Liberal Democrat)

Paul is 30 years old and lives at Burley-in-Wharfedale with his young family.

He is studying part time for a degree in public sector management, and was student of the year in 2012 on his course at Craven College.

Paul is a member of Menston Action Group and gave his full support at the public inquiry. He supported Burley Summer Festival by volunteering, and volunteers for St John Ambulance.

Paul said: “If you take five minutes to vote for me, I will give you years of hard work.

“I will hold regular consultations and surgeries and deliver a regular leaflet to keep you in touch with updates on issues that are important to you. I understand people are going through some rough times at the moment, and I’m very interested in helping people out with any of their concerns.”

Jackie Whiteley (Conservative)

Jackie Whiteley has lived with her husband at Burley-in-Wharfedale for 25 years and brought up two children.

Jackie said: “I have a lifetime of experience to bring to this role; I have been a civil servant, a disability rights and welfare benefits adviser, a careers adviser in schools and at Leeds University.

“In 2004, I started a business – Strulch Ltd – and was named York-shire Woman of Achieve-ment in 2009. I volun-teered in my children’s schools, was an external examiner for enterprise courses at Bradford University and a mentor and judge in the Solutions for the Planet Yorkshire schools’ competition.

“I will oppose the Labour council’s plan to build thousands of new homes on green field sites. The infrastructure in the area is already inadequate. I will campaign for more school places, which we desperately need, and for better public transport.”