CREDITON residents will be able to vote for who represents them at Mid Devon District Council when they go to the polls on Thursday, May 2.

Those standing in the Boniface Ward include (two will be elected to serve the ward):

JOHN DOWNES - Lib Dem

JOHN is a District and Town Councillor for Boniface Ward where he lives with his wife Chris who works with the NHS as a Social Worker. They brought up their two children, John and Charlotte, in Crediton where they attended Hayward’s and QECC schools. John is a retired Chartered Engineer and now works part-time for Crediton Arts Centre.

He is involved in many local voluntary groups, most of which are to do with health, the arts and the environment. These include Sustainable Crediton, New Valley Surgery Patient Participation Group and the Crediton Festivals.

John fought against and objected to the closure of the Town Council offices, he was instrumental in getting a new path in Newcombes Meadow and Cycle Path in Belle Parade.

On Mid Devon he has fought to keep parking fees down and to ensure that Crediton develops in a sustainable way and does not come second to Tiverton.

John is a green environmentalist and keen cyclist and tries to keep fit by being a member of Lords Meadow Leisure Centre.

He loves music and plays guitar in local bands and to relax he loves walking his dogs Charlie and Mollie in the surrounding countryside.

GINA FORD - Conservative

GINA is a former Boniface Ward Town Councillor and has helped run projects involving both of Crediton’s primary schools.

Passionate about standing up for the most vulnerable in society, she runs the Holly Valley Art Studio which helps adults with Downs syndrome, autism and those living with paralysis following a stroke.

As one of the four Conservative candidates standing in Crediton she has pledged to work hard to support Crediton’s businesses, increase CCTV coverage to tackle anti-social behaviour, improve Crediton’s public transport links, protect our environment and our countryside, deliver investment in local services and facilities and improve road safety in Crediton.

RODDY JAQUES - Conservative

RODDY grew up in Crediton and after graduating from Bath University (studying Physics) he is now back in Crediton.

His father David worked with our former Conservative MP Angela Browning many years ago and runs a local accountancy firm.

Roddy is passionate about providing fun and healthy activities for young people to get involved with locally and he has helped run one of Crediton’s leading youth organisations for the past eight years.

He wants to get more young people in Crediton engaged in voluntary activities that help the local community.

Roddy is campaigning for improved rail links, seeing an opportunity when the new Okehampton to Exeter service is introduced to bring more people into Crediton to shop and provide more trains between Crediton and Exeter.

JIM CAIRNEY - LibDem

JIM Cairney is standing as a Liberal Democrats candidate.

Jim is a well-known restaurateur in Crediton. He will be a town councillor for Boniface ward and opened his restaurant in 2003.

Jim had a break from the restaurant when he helped with cooking at Kenwyn care home and Age Concern. He is a green environmentalist and member of Lords Meadow Leisure Centre. His sports include swimming, karate and football.

BOB EDWARDS - UKIP

THE UK Independence Party has chosen Bob Edwards to be their candidate for the Boniface ward.

Bob is a former Royal Marines officer, Mid Devon District Councillor and five-times Mayor of Crediton.

In the 2001 general election he stood in West Devon and four years later he stood in the Tiverton and Honiton constituency. Both times he increased UKIP’s vote by a considerable margin.

LOUISE LAMPARD - Labour

LOUISE is a mother of four and Grandmother to one. She runs a small  business in the Crediton district.

She was born in Devon and like generations of her family was born and lived in and around the Crediton area.

Louise says her aim is to continue to work hard to build up a Branch that provides members with what they feel they should be getting from their local Labour Party.

She explained: “I will continue campaigning, in particular in the rural areas where we seem to be forgotten about.

“If I am elected as a Councillor on to the Mid Devon District Council I promise to listen to your views and needs. I will strive to work for our town! Making Crediton a town for the people who live in it and those who visit it.”