County Elections May 2008

In May 2008 elections will be taking place throughout Northumberland to elect councillors for the new unitary authority to replace Tynedale District and Northumberland County Council.

Hexham Liberal Democrats hope to build upon successes in 2005 in the County elections and the General Election with a swing of around 12% to the Liberal Democrats, and last year's District elections where the Liberal Democrats were in a clear second place in wards across the constituency.

With strong representation across the county in areas such as Berwick, Alnwick and Morpeth the Liberal Democrats expect to be a strong position on the new council.

In May, electors across the Hexham constituency will have the opportunity to end the stranglehold of the Tory dominated Tynedale Council and the Labour controlled County Council.

Liberal Democrats will be fielding candidates in all wards across the constituency.

• Bellingham - Philip Cooper

• Bywell - Nick Appleby

• Corbridge - Andrew Duffield

• Haltwhistle - Niall Deas

• Haydon & Hadrian - Alan Sharp

• Hexham Central - Paul Harrison

• Hexham East - Victor Ball

• Hexham West - Derek Kennedy

• Humshaugh - Andrew Davidson

• Ponteland East - David Cogan

• Ponteland North - Peter Charleton

• Ponteland South & Heddon - Chris Matthew

• Ponteland West - Paul Naughton

• Prudhoe East - Tom Appleby

• Prudhoe West - Neil Bradbury

• South Tynedale - Kate Clarkson

• Stocksfield & B'haugh - Philip Latham

Philip Cooper - Bellingham

Has lived in Tynedale for 30 years.

Employed as a gardener and self employed business trainer.

Special interest in education - previous involvement in Special Needs training.

Interests in public speaking and photography.

Nick Appleby - Bywell

Andrew Duffield - Corbridge

Educated at Plymouth and at Durham University.

He runs his own energy consultancy business in Northumberland and is married to Helen, a farmer's daughter and first school teacher from Corbridge.

They have 2 children at a Local Authority High School

Andrew has served in the Royal Navy and has spent time as a manager in the National Health Service and as a senior manager at Newcastle University.

He has also served as a District and County Councillor in Northumberland and has stood for Parliament three times - securing a significant swing to the Liberal Democrats in Hexham at the 2005 General Election.

Niall Deas - Haltwhistle

Liberal Democrat candidate, Niall Deas, is a 36-year old Chartered Surveyor.

He moved to Haltwhistle five years ago having previously lived in Hexham.

Niall lives with his wife, Louise, 14-year old son, Jack, and two springer spaniels.

Niall is passionate about the environment, economic prosperity and social justice.

Alan Sharp - Haydon and Hadrian

Aged 43, educated at Haltwhistle & Haydon Bridge schools

Has worked for Land Factor (formerly J.M.Clark) for past 25 years; now Estate Manager in their Haltwhistle office

Member of Tynedale District & Haltwhistle Town Councils since 1987

Chairman of Haltwhistle Town Council for past 8 years

Chairman of Governors at Greenhead School

Serves on many Village Hall Committees

Paul Harrison - Hexham Central

A well-known figure, raised in North East, he has 4 grown-up children and has lived in Hexham for a number of years.

He served 7 years in the Army with the Royal Artillery regiment and for the last 6 years has worked at Egger in Hexham, where he is a member of the GMB union.

He is a former councillor and former youth leader.

Hexham East - Victor Ball

Victor first moved to Hexham in 1972 and has lived and worked in the North East ever since.

A former Tynedale District Councillor for four years prior to 1995,

Victor resigned from the Labour Party and joined the Liberal Democrats in 2003.

Derek Kennedy - Hexham West

A dynamic, energetic and high profile local campaigner.

Elected as County Councillor for Hexham West in 2005.

He is a current Town & District Councillor for Hexham Leazes.

A qualified internal auditor working for national government.

He is married with two young children.

Andrew Davidson - Humshaugh

Son of local postman and WWII pilot Wally Davidson

Apart from 10 years in the RAF Andrew has lived most of his life in Wark.

Former School Governor and current Sports Club committee member, Andrew serves on a number of county-wide community based committees.

Has worked for a community transport charity since 2004 and runs his own electrical testing business.

His passions are football, golf and cricket.

He is married with two children and has many relations throughout Tynedale.

David Cogan - Ponteland East

Has lived in Ponteland for 39 years.

Liberal parliamentary candidate for Hexham in 1970

Elected as County Councillor in 2005

Has served 12 years as a Ponteland Parish Councillor and 4 years as a Borough Councillor.

His interests include membership of the Methodist Church and the Repertory Society, and walking in glorious Northumberland countryside.

Peter Charleton - Ponteland North

The son of a well known former farming family.

Elected as County Councillor in 2005

A popular and dedicated Borough Councillor for 13 years.

He has a well founded reputation as a councillor "who gets things done".

As a former teacher, Peter is particularly concerned with educational issues.

Chis Matthew - Ponteland North and Heddon

Grew up in Ponteland and has lived here for the last 25 years.

He works for HM Revenue & Customs in Gosforth.

He is married with 2 sons both of whom were educated in local schools.

He has been a Parish Councillor for 13 years and is a trustee of the Coates Education Foundation and was for 8 years a governor at Richard Coates Middle School.

Paul Naughton - Ponteland West

Lives locally and was educated in Ponteland.

He has worked in a number of successful schools in Newcastle & North Tyneside.

He has been the deputy head teacher of a former Gateshead Beacon

school for the past eight years.

He has worked closely with the Youth Service in Ponteland, Heddon and Stamfordham in the past.

He helps at the Leonard Cheshire Care home in Ponteland and is a member of Ponteland SVP which cares for the sick and elderly.

Prudhoe East - Tom Appleby

Has lived in Tynedale all his life.

Attended Prudhoe High School.

Politics Graduate from Northumbria University.

Has worked in quantity surveying, leisure and retail sectors.

Elected to Tynedale Council in 2006 by-election.

Youngest councillor in North East.

Prudhoe West - Neil Bradbury

A District and Town Councillor for the ward.

A finance officer for a national charity,

He lives locally with his wife Donna and is a trustee of two local charities.

South Tynedale - Kate Clarkson

Lives in Hexhamshire and is married with 2 children.

She has been a nurse for over 30 years and understands the needs of people living in urban and rural areas.

Kate works hard for the local community - she is a member of the Executive of Tynedale Community Hospice, she is President of the Hexhamshire W.I. and is a Trustee of Whitley Chapel Parish Hall.

Over the last year Kate has lead a singing group in Hexhamshire who released a festive CD "Christmas Crackers" which raised over £5500 to support local children with Muscular Dystrophy.

Stocksfield and Broomhaugh - Philip Latham

Philip has lived in Riding Mill since 1970.

After 10 years as a Parish Councillor, Philip has been a Tynedale District Councillor since 1995.

A teacher for over 30 years, he has actively supported the 3 tier education system.

An experienced and committed campaigner on local issues, he stood as parliamentary candidate for Hexham in 2001.

He has a keen supporter of environmental issues, and is interested in gardening and bee-keeping.