News / Politics
Independent mayoral candidate pulls out of race to stand as councillor
Two former mayoral candidates have joined forces to stand for the Green Party in Southville in May’s local elections.
Christine Townsend was set to stand as an independent in the mayoral race, as she did in 2016, but has now pulled out – with her new focus on being elected to City Hall as a councillor.
She will be standing in Southville with Tony Dyer, the Green Party’s mayoral candidate in 2016 who has also stood in three general elections in Bristol South.
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Townsend said: “Too many decisions are being rushed through by the council, often with disastrous results for Bristolians. The handling of SEND is a case in point, with poor decision making and a dismissive attitude to affected parents having a major impact on the education and well being of some of Bristol’s most vulnerable
children.
“I stood as a mayoral candidate because I am passionate about making sure that no child in Bristol is left behind, and I wanted to stop the structural inequalities in education being swept under the carpet. I believe that I will best be able to continue that work as a Green councillor.”
Dyer added: “As well as representing my area of Southville, as a councillor I would make it my priority to scrutinise the council’s decision making process.
“In this era of restricted council budgets it is important that we ensure the right decisions are being made based on the best evidence available.”
The Green Party’s mayoral candidate for this year’s mayoral election is Sandy Hore-Ruthven, who on Monday morning was due to outline his vision to address Bristol’s traffic problems at Lawrence Hill Bus Depot.
He said: “I am standing for mayor to get Bristol moving. A vote for me and Green councillors this May is a vote to solve our transport crisis.”
Main photo: Green Party
Read more: Lib Dems launch mayoral campaign with bid to scrap mayor
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