NOT This Time

The results are in. By 21 votes out of almost 5,200 cast, I missed taking the "Cheriton, Sandgate and Hythe East" Kent County Council division from the Conservatives.

Election of councillors to Kent County Council for the Cheriton, Sandgate & Hythe East division on Thursday 6 May 2021

Turnout: 34.95%

The full results are at https://sandgatepc.org.uk/2021/05/08/cheriton-sandgate-hythe-east-division-of-kent-county-council-declaration-of-results/

So yeah, I'm gutted.

I'd have loved to have been elected to Kent County Council to represent the place I live, and missing out by 21 votes made it quite tense. I did my best, but it wasn't to be.

But I'm still proud to be here.

I'm still the District Councillor for Sandgate and West Folkestone. I'm still a Parish Councillor for Sandgate, and still the Chairman of Sandgate Parish Council. Still a Town Councillor on Folkestone and Hythe Town Councils. I'm delighted to have been joined today on the Parish Council by Vicki Parsons - a great addition to the Council, and keeping the Council entirely Independent and without party candidates.

I'm also overwhelmed by the support in the ballot box: thank you. 2,122 votes is more than I've ever had in any one election before, and I'm humbled by the support. I'm also really grateful to everyone that supported my campaign by delivering leaflets, on my poster team, or in any other way: thank you.

Its clear that the next target has to be to make sure we hold Sandgate and West Folkestone in the district elections in 2023. I think Sandgate and West Folkestone residents have valued the work that Gary and I have done over the past couple of years as your District Councillors. We'll continue to work and keep in touch with local people through the year.

I'm staying, working and listening to local people, and together we are going to continue to make Sandgate better. As we have. As we will. Onwards.