A FORMER county council cabinet member and a junior doctor are among candidates in an upcoming by-election in Somerton.
Voters will head to the polls on March 28 to elect a representative on Somerset Council for the Somerton division after the sad passing of former councillor, Dean Ruddle, in January.
The full list of candidates for the Somerton by-election is:
Gregory Chambers (Lab)
Matthew Geen (Green Party)
David Hall (Con)
Stephen Page (Lib Dem)
Mr Hall is a former Conservative councillor, chair of the Somerset Rivers Authority, and deputy leader of Somerset County Council.
He has been seeking a way to return to local government after he was ousted in the 2022 poll for the new Somerset Council, coming third in the Somerton ward.
Then, in August last year, he stood for election in the Castle Cary ward, but was beaten into second place by Lib Dem, Kevin Messenger.
For Labour, Mr Chambers is a junior doctor working at Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester. He has served two years as chair of Friends of Somerton Library and grew up on the town.
In 2022, he stood in the Martock ward for Labour, coming in seventh place.
The Lib Dems have nominated Stephen Page, who in 2022 stood in Castle Cary, coming fourth in the poll.
And the Green Party have nominated Matthew Geen, who stood in Curry Rivel & Langport in 2022, coming in seventh place.
READ MORE: Tributes to ‘Mr Somerton’ – Dean Ruddle – who has passed away
In order to vote on March 28, Somerton residents must be registered. The deadline for registration – at gov.uk – is midnight on Tuesday, March 12.
In a change to previous elections, people planning to vote in person at a polling station must provide photo ID – this can include a passport, driving licence or older person’s bus pass.
The full list of acceptable ID can be found on the Electoral Commission website.
You can still use your photo ID if it is out of date, if it looks like you. The name on your ID should be the same name you used to register to vote.
Those without the necessary ID can apply for the free Voter Authority Certificate (VAC) – before 5pm on Wednesday, March 20. Applications can be made online, by post or in person. Help and advice is available from the Somerset elections team on 0300 123 2224.
As some of us, sadly far too few, go to the polls today I regret that the Leveller has chosen to say so little about the candidates, indeed almost nothing about Steven Page or Matt Geen. National politicians are pretty underwhelming at the moment but Somerset needs to do better and although we might have some good people here to choose from, it would have been good to have known a lot more about their views in advance.
Hi Anthony, you’re spot on. Sadly with the recent editorial and administrative changeover this story has slipped through the cracks. We are already planning our coverage for the expected by-election for Alex Wiltshire’s seat, and it will be exactly along the lines you say, offering coverage to each and every candidate. Apologies this is too late for the Somerton vote, but I just want to reassure you we will be all over future elections in Somerset, national or local.
Thank you, Alex