Local town councillors join Election 2011 fight

JOHN DENNIS, a Hedon Town Councillor and waste incinerator campaigner, has announced that he is to stand for election to the East Riding Council on May 5th as a Conservative candidate, along with fellow Town Councillor Mike Bryan.

John Dennis declared his intention to stand whilst responding to an article on HU12 about how councillors and local government might use 'hyperlocal' websites. The article had stated that "East Riding Councillors for the South West Holderness area currently have no relationship with their constituent hyperlocals".

In response to the article, in what might be seen as the opening shots of the local Election 2011 campaign, John Dennis said:

"Please note that after 10 years on Hedon Town Council, and 5 years as spokesperson for the successful HOTI (anti-incinerator) campaign I am now intending to stand for election to the County Council in May, as a Conservative candidate together with Mike Bryan.

I wish it to be known that I, personally, will use all methods available to me to maintain contact with the electorate, both before and (hopefully) after election. I think I can safely say that by using well established connections and exploiting all aspects of modern technology to get the message out to the press TV and radio, I was generally successful in publicising the activities of the HOTI and keeping the pressure on those in the corridors of power.

Maybe the lack of commitment in the past by incumbent members to the use of the the modern technology generally, is one of the reasons SW Holderness is regarded as an ideal place to site such monstrosities as Incinerators and Sewage Works."

The declaration by Mr Dennis of his and Mr Bryan's intent to stand on May 5th, follows the early declaration last week that 18 year Adam Lonsdale will be standing as an Independent.

The election campaign war has certainly started early this year, but this campaign will also be very different in the fact that it will be fought under the glare of the internet with massive opportunities for online discussion and interaction. Policies, promises and candidates will be scrutinised under the virtual microscopes of the electorate.

The official start of nominations for Election 2011 is Friday 25th March.