Bristol Mayor race officially opens today
From today aspiring Bristol Mayors can officially enter the race to lead the city, as the council starts to accept nomination papers.
After months of speculation and election candidate announcements, mayor hopefuls can formally submit their applications.
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Polling day for the election of the Bristol Mayor will take place on November 15
A Bristol NHS worker, an architect and an environmental specialist are among those hoping to be elected to the new position the city voted in favour of in May.
Directly-elected mayor contenders have until noon on Friday October 19 to submit their nomination papers to the council.
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They must book an appointment with the electoral services department and deliver their papers in person.
The full list of nominees will be announced at 12.30pm on Wednesday October 24 in a meeting in the council chamber at Council House.
The list will be published at noon the day previous, but candidates have a final 24 hours to pull out of the running.
Polling day for the election of both the Bristol Mayor and the Police and Crime Commissioner will take place on November 15.
To run for mayor, candidates must live, work or occupy land as an owner or tenant in Bristol.
They must be at least 18 years old on the day of their nomination; be a British citizen, an eligible Commonwealth citizen or a citizen of any other member state of the European Union.
They’ll need a £500 deposit as well as 30 nominating signatures of people on the Bristol Electoral Register. The deposit is non-returnable if candidates do not poll five per cent of the vote.
You cannot be a candidate if at the time of your nomination and on the day of the election you: are the subject of a bankruptcy restrictions order or interim order; work at certain schools, fire services, police or health services; hold a politically restricted post or have been sentenced to a term of imprisonment of three months or more during the past five years.
Nor can you stand if you have been disqualified for corrupt or illegal electoral practices.
Read more here.
Bristol voted in favour of having a directly-elected mayor in May this year. Of the 10 cities which held referendums, Bristol was the only one which opted for a mayor.
People in Manchester, Birmingham, Sheffield, Coventry, Bradford, Wakefield, Newcastle, Nottingham and Leeds all voted against the idea.
From a turnout of 24 per cent in Bristol, 41,032 people voted in favour of a mayor, while 35,880 voted against, BBC News reports.
Returning officer for the November elections Stephen McNamara said: “The excitement of the elections for Bristol’s first-ever mayor and the region’s police and crime commissioner is starting to build up.
“Elections underpin our democratic process and it’s important that anyone thinking of standing as a candidate is aware of the process, the rules and regulations and the key dates.
“I know there has been huge interest in Bristol’s November elections and I look forward to meeting the nominated candidates.”
Election candidates announced so far are: Craig Clarke (Independent), Tim Collins (Independent), George Ferguson (Independent), Geoff Gollop (Conservative), Neil Maggs (Respect), Spud Murphy (Independent), Eric Mutch (Independent), Daniella Radice (Green), Marvin Rees (Labour), Jon Rogers (Liberal Democrat) and Andy Thorne (Independent), Tom Baldwin (Trade Unionists and Socialists Against Cuts).
Read a full Bristol Mayor election timetable here.
Comments
by spizzichina
Thursday, October 25 2012, 10:09AM
“I would like each of the candidates that are party affiliated to publicly state whether they will act in the city's interest even if it means a conflict with their political party. I am not convinced this is the case. We need a " Boris Johnson" type who will put the city before the party.
I would like to see the candidates state what they would view as a success and failure after their term in office. In other words back all their words with specific actions.
Most of all I want a mayor who says I don't care if I get re-elected, but in my term I will do what is best for the city.
I suppose if pigs could fly!!!!”
by lolly60
Thursday, October 11 2012, 9:55PM
“No not that either sorry”
by Spiggett
Thursday, October 11 2012, 3:49PM
“-But maybe a Banker?”
by lolly60
Thursday, October 11 2012, 9:00AM
“Why does everyone blame this government for all that is wrong in this country ,for pitty sake they are trying to sort it out ,yes we maybe having a hard time of it with all these cuts but if it wasn't for the last Labour government we wouldn't have to do it .no I'm not a Tory before you ask .”
by SlotBoy
Thursday, October 11 2012, 12:36AM
“Hello.
I have removed my invisibilty cloak. Perhaps you might like to pause for an Independent human being with a plan?
Stick RiFiX into Google for some mayoral ideas for the future.
or
http://tinyurl.com/94dd6pf
Thanks for your time.
Rich Fisher - independent”
by Lone_Ranger
Wednesday, October 10 2012, 5:28PM
“It's apparent that Ferguson's ambitions could aline firstly with his cronies in the Merchant Venturers and then with those of his recent friends in the Liberal party.
It appears that he could be the Liberal's real candidate ahead of the offcial one who will not get elected because of the useful idiots at the top of the Liberal Party being the enablers to the Tory's policies of slash 'n' burn.”
by ettubrute
Wednesday, October 10 2012, 3:29PM
“I'm going with George. A mayor is a personality, someone who can do the deals and make things happen. Marvin Rees looks to be a rising star, but his ambitions lie further up the Labour hierarchy by the looks of things. George F's ambitions I think align with Bristol's and no further. I'd give him a chance. Dr Jon's a reasonable person but would be eaten alive inside a bigger political tent. No idea who the Tory is.”
by green_man
Wednesday, October 10 2012, 3:14PM
“http://tinyurl.com/8wc45rt”
by green_man
Wednesday, October 10 2012, 3:10PM
“We know from past voting patterns and current polls and political developments that the most likely outcome is a Labour or liberal-minded independent candidate - like George Ferguson - winning. In other words its Labour's Marvin Rees vs independent George Ferguson because both are broadly progressive and not being blamed for current problems.
Surely we can count out Tories and Lib Dems because of the ongoing recession and the cuts/austerity program? The Tories dont have the votes needed across the whole city in any case and the Lib Dems are taking the brunt of the criticism of the coalition govt (thus they are at only 10% or so in the national polls).
Its hard to predict the final result between two particular candidates, Labour's Marvin Rees amd Independent George Ferguson but it looks like these two will be the top two after the first round of counting. George has the best appreciaton of the realities of the social, economic and environmental issues facing Bristol and the wider world, he is not part of any tribal political party and is open to ideas and people from all political parties and none, so my second preference vote will go to him. I hope many others will do the same because he is for me the only candidate that can stop a Labour victory.”
by SlotBoy
Wednesday, October 10 2012, 1:26AM
“Mmmm 13
Unlucky for me ?
R i c h F i s h e r
Independent.”