Green Party announces Weca mayor candidate
THE Greens have announced Jerome Thomas as their candidate for the West of England mayoral elections. Cllr Thomas is the deputy leader of the party’s opposition group on Bristol City Council, a role he will be stepping down from ahead of the elections, which are still planned for May 6 this year, despite growing concerns about the coronavirus pandemic.
He joins Labour’s Dan Norris and Lib Dem Stephen Williams, both former MPs, as well as Conservative candidate Samuel Williams on the ballot for metro mayor.
The metro mayor is the political head of the West of England Combined Authority (Weca) which has responsibility for regional transport, strategic planning, economic growth and adult skills.
Current incumbent Tim Bowles, who has held the position for the Conservatives since 2017, is retiring from politics after his four-year term comes to an end in May.
Samuel Williams was initially going to stand for Bristol city mayor but has been chosen as the Tories’ candidate as mayor of Weca, which covers Bristol, South Gloucestershire and Bath & North East Somerset.
Calls have been made for the poll to be postponed to allow more time for North Somerset to join the combined authority
but that now seems unlikely.
Speaking about his nomination, Cllr Thomas said: “Across the country metro mayors have important responsibilities for jobs, homes and transport.
“Good implementation of green policies in these areas is key to our future health and prosperity.
“I am standing as the West of England Green Party metro mayor candidate because our region needs well-paid green jobs, affordable warm homes and low-carbon green transport to tackle congestion.”