The Labour Party in Weymouth and Portland has selected a full slate of candidates to contest the Borough Council elections in May.
At the last elections in May 2014, the Labour Party gained an additional three seats to become the largest group on the Borough Council.
Labour Group leader and Chairman of the Management Committee, Councillor Mike Byatt, is hoping the Party will make similar gains this year, as it targets a majority on the Council. Councillor Byatt said:
“I’m extremely pleased with the work Labour councillors have accomplished in the past 10 months, putting into action our vision for the future of Weymouth and Portland.
“There’s still much more work to do and I have high expectations for our Councillors over the next year. We ran a very competitive selection process so I’ve every confidence our candidates will be up to the task.”
As part of the selection process new applicants and incumbent councillors were measured against a range of criteria, from their commitment to the aims and values of the Labour Group at WPBC, to their attendance at group and council meetings and involvement in Labour Party campaigns.
The competitiveness of the selections meant that in one ward the incumbent councillor, Anne Kenwood, was not reselected.
Chairman of the Labour Party in South Dorset, Richard Baker, said: “After careful consideration of the criteria, members felt it was time to select a new candidate for Wyke Regis. We are grateful to Anne for her past contributions to both Weymouth and the Labour Party and wish her well in her retirement.”
The full slate of Labour candidates is:
Richard Baker (Melcombe Regis), Maureen Drake (Preston), Kay Wilcox (Radipole), Jo Atwell (Tophill East), Jim Draper (Tophill West), Keiron Womble (Upwey and Broadway), Pete Barrow (Westham North), Andy Blackwood (Westham West), Pat Dunne (Wey Valley), Maria Blackwood (Weymouth East), Hazel Priest (Weymouth West), and Lucy Hamilton (Wyke Regis).
Dan Brember
