Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Election battle begins to take eight city seats at County Hall
In a county council election which promises few surprises, the battle for eight seats in the Canterbury district could still provide the odd upset.
Prominent Lib Dems Mike Sole and Ida Linfield, who have in the past both served on the city council, are seeking a return to frontline politics with a seat at County Hall.
Their party has been campaigning hard and is hitting district homes with its Focus leaflet.
In slightly rejigged boundaries, Mr Sole takes on current Conservative county councillor Michael Northey in the Canterbury South division, while Mrs Linfield will need to beat Conservative newcomer Joe Egerton in Canterbury City South.
Elsewhere, the Lib Dems lose Martin Vye, who steps down as a councillor after 28 years.
Labour, the Greens and Ukip will also be on the ballot papers attempting to unseat sitting Conservatives, including Graham Gibbens and John Simmonds, who have years of county council experience between them.
Jean Butcher, the popular Northgate ward Labour city councillor, is hoping to add the county to her brief in the tough Canterbury South run-off, while Green campaigner Henry Stanton appears on the ballot in Canterbury City North.
The Conservatives are the only party contesting every county council division. With the reorganisation of boundaries, the council is shedding three of its 84 councillors.
This translates to changes in the coastal towns, where the four seats between Whitstable and Herne Bay become three: Whitstable West, Herne Bay East, and the cross-town division Whitstable East and Herne Bay West.
Ukip will be hoping it can hold onto one of the two Herne Bay seats it snatched from the Conservatives at 2013 election.
Incumbent Nick Bond is standing in Herne Bay East while city councillor David Hirst is hoping to take the new division of Whitstable East and Herne Bay West.
Labour, which has a city councillor in Whitstable, will be hoping voters turn out to support Rachel Goodwin, who is challenging KCC veteran Mark Dance in Whitstable West.
Few, however, would bet against Conservative Alan Marsh in the largely rural Herne Village and Sturry division where he remains the clear favourite. Even fewer would bet against the Conservatives retaining overall control of the county council.
Countywide, the big questions will be whether Ukip retains anything like the 14 councillors which make it the largest opposition group now.
A resurgence for Lib Dems and Labour could see either party pick off an east Kent seat, with the Canterbury divisions the most likely for an upset.
Polling day is Thursday, May 4, with the count and results taking place in the Westgate Hall, Canterbury, on Friday, May 5. Ann Anderson, Lib Dem Jon Beer, Labour Nick Bond, Ukip Andrew Cook, Conservative Whitstable East and Herne Bay West David Hirst, Ukip Mike Northern, Lib Dem Naomi Smith, Labour Sarah Stanton, Green Ian Thomas, Conservative Whitstable West Mark Dance, Conservative Rachel Goodwin, Labour David Mummery, Lib Dem Richard Riley, Ukip Alex Stevens, Green