It is a relief it is all over, and judging by the faces at t he OIC, when we all went up to sign the document, there were a lot of tided but content councillors there.
I was flattered by the number of votes I got, thank you to all who gave me a vote.
I will try to be an approachable and open councillor, and will try to do what I can (within the law!) to solve peoples problems, to work on ward issues and to be a reasoned thinker in council meetings.
It will be a busy 2 months now, as I have to hand in my notice and work 2 months for ODf / Dial-a-Bus. I will ask if I can remain employed in a part time capacity, as there are some projects I have not finished and some that are about to take off - and I would like to see them through.
This will interfere a bit (but not stop) with my OIC work until the end of June, but then I should have time to devote properly to the councillor job.
Finally, I am keen to work with Davy, Alan and Roderick; and I feel sure we will work well as a team.
Feel free to call me on 875969 if you wish to discuss OIC matters.
Thanks again.
Jack
Friday, 4 May 2007
Tuesday, 1 May 2007
Vote for whoever you want !
I believe some candidates are knocking on doors and asking people to give them a particular number in the vote.
I do not take this approach at all - because I think the voters should be given the information but left in peace to make their own minds up.
I have tried to get around as many houses as possible, with notes through the door, to say who I am and why I want to stand, and what I stand for. I have also given my contact details so folk can get in touch or read this site to find out more.
It is not for me to tell people how to vote, people are perfectly capable of making that decision themselves.
ps. having seen the other candidates in action at the hustings meetings in Orphir and in Kirkwall, I am confident that whichever 4 get in - the ward will be well represented.
They all spoke well and seem to have the interests of the ward at heart.
This is good news for the next 4 years.
If you have any issues that you cant solve, then get the councillors to help, that is what they are there for.
I do not take this approach at all - because I think the voters should be given the information but left in peace to make their own minds up.
I have tried to get around as many houses as possible, with notes through the door, to say who I am and why I want to stand, and what I stand for. I have also given my contact details so folk can get in touch or read this site to find out more.
It is not for me to tell people how to vote, people are perfectly capable of making that decision themselves.
ps. having seen the other candidates in action at the hustings meetings in Orphir and in Kirkwall, I am confident that whichever 4 get in - the ward will be well represented.
They all spoke well and seem to have the interests of the ward at heart.
This is good news for the next 4 years.
If you have any issues that you cant solve, then get the councillors to help, that is what they are there for.
Sunday, 29 April 2007
"The Orcadian" annoys all the candidates
Interestingly the Orkney Today and the Orcadian were in touch about getting pieces for their spread in the papers. The Orkney Today wanted 200 words and a photo, in a few days, the Orcadian gave more time and gave 300 words to answer a series of questions. I felt the Orcadian's more structured set of questions was a better format and spent a while crafting the words to suit. It was not difficult to answer the questions but it was difficult getting it cut to 300 words.
However, when I read the piece in the paper, it contained very little of what I said.
Having spoken to a number of candidates, they have done the same with everyone.
Not only have they doctored it, but they give more words to some than to others.
This doesn't bode well for accuracy of reporting of what goes on at the OIC.
If I get in I will get all the reports for meetings added to the OIC website so you can read the reports yourselves (the same reports the councillors get), and make your own minds up.
However, when I read the piece in the paper, it contained very little of what I said.
Having spoken to a number of candidates, they have done the same with everyone.
Not only have they doctored it, but they give more words to some than to others.
This doesn't bode well for accuracy of reporting of what goes on at the OIC.
If I get in I will get all the reports for meetings added to the OIC website so you can read the reports yourselves (the same reports the councillors get), and make your own minds up.
Saturday, 28 April 2007
Sorry I have not updated the site all week.
It has been a busy week with a Hustings in Orphir on Monday, Hustings in Kirkwall on Thursday, helping with the MS Art Exhibition through the week and then helping at the MS Art Auction on Friday night (the auction raised about £7000 and with the raffle I think the total will be about £9500 ! ).
I was out posting leaflets in doors and speaking to people in the Quoybanks area on Saturday - a beautiful day.
Things that came up were slowing down the cars in built up areas, noisy and disruptive neighbours, and bad footpaths and poor lighting.
The roads footpaths and lighting should be easy enough to sort out, with the 4 councillors working together this should be able to be sorted out quickly.
Noisy neighbours will require the help of the police, but must be tackled.
If elected, I will not be frightened to tackle difficult matters like this.
I was stunned at the poor quality of some of the footpaths and some of the windows in houses, which were rotten (I presume these are council houses that have been bought out, but if they are council houses, I will be asking to have this replaced).
I will try to keep it updated more often this week.
If I do get in at the election I intend to keep the website and to update it to let you know what I have been up to - because I think councillors need to be more accountable to the people in the ward, and let them know what is going on.
I was out posting leaflets in doors and speaking to people in the Quoybanks area on Saturday - a beautiful day.
Things that came up were slowing down the cars in built up areas, noisy and disruptive neighbours, and bad footpaths and poor lighting.
The roads footpaths and lighting should be easy enough to sort out, with the 4 councillors working together this should be able to be sorted out quickly.
Noisy neighbours will require the help of the police, but must be tackled.
If elected, I will not be frightened to tackle difficult matters like this.
I was stunned at the poor quality of some of the footpaths and some of the windows in houses, which were rotten (I presume these are council houses that have been bought out, but if they are council houses, I will be asking to have this replaced).
I will try to keep it updated more often this week.
If I do get in at the election I intend to keep the website and to update it to let you know what I have been up to - because I think councillors need to be more accountable to the people in the ward, and let them know what is going on.
Monday, 23 April 2007
Been out delivering leaflets at the weekend
I have been walking the streets of Kirkwall at the weekend, delivering leaflets. It has been good to get out and meet folk.
Issues that have come up so far are 1) affordable housing; 2) wind generators; 3) antisocial behaviour; 4) the voluntary sector; 5) young people; 6) KGS
Where I stand on these things - 1) OIC needs to work harder to alleviate the problems of young people getting accommodation - by making more land available for self builds, and by building more lettable property, or freeinng up land for Orkney Housing Association to build more lettable property.
2) I am for wind generators so long as there is a significant financial benefit to the community - not just a token.
3) I think more needs to be done to deal with antisocial behaviour and I include drunken behaviour in that too.
4) I work in the voluntary sector, or as I like to refer to it as the charitable sector. A lot of really essential services come from these group of organisations, and I think we need to look at better supporting the sector. I will campaign for a stronger group and a stronger voice for charities in Orkney.
5) young people get a bad press, but the majority of young people I meet in clubs and in shops and anywhere are decent, polite and interesting people. Although I dont feel young, I am sadly, probably the youngest candidate - and if I get in I will work to help young people and young adults.
6) Ive already said KGS should stay on the current sight, I am yet to decide if it needs refurbishment or rebuilt, but there is more than enough space on the current site - and the community there are accustomed with it, and the roads system works well with it there, and there is a high density of people living all around it.
I am, in fact, keen on Steven Heddles idea to transform it into a Community School, where there are community rooms and halls available for the folk in the area. I know the pool and fitness areas are already available, but I would like to see more - say a snooker and pool room, meeting rooms, and a coffee / tuck shop associated with the reception. This would go down well with all the folk that live in that area.
Issues that have come up so far are 1) affordable housing; 2) wind generators; 3) antisocial behaviour; 4) the voluntary sector; 5) young people; 6) KGS
Where I stand on these things - 1) OIC needs to work harder to alleviate the problems of young people getting accommodation - by making more land available for self builds, and by building more lettable property, or freeinng up land for Orkney Housing Association to build more lettable property.
2) I am for wind generators so long as there is a significant financial benefit to the community - not just a token.
3) I think more needs to be done to deal with antisocial behaviour and I include drunken behaviour in that too.
4) I work in the voluntary sector, or as I like to refer to it as the charitable sector. A lot of really essential services come from these group of organisations, and I think we need to look at better supporting the sector. I will campaign for a stronger group and a stronger voice for charities in Orkney.
5) young people get a bad press, but the majority of young people I meet in clubs and in shops and anywhere are decent, polite and interesting people. Although I dont feel young, I am sadly, probably the youngest candidate - and if I get in I will work to help young people and young adults.
6) Ive already said KGS should stay on the current sight, I am yet to decide if it needs refurbishment or rebuilt, but there is more than enough space on the current site - and the community there are accustomed with it, and the roads system works well with it there, and there is a high density of people living all around it.
I am, in fact, keen on Steven Heddles idea to transform it into a Community School, where there are community rooms and halls available for the folk in the area. I know the pool and fitness areas are already available, but I would like to see more - say a snooker and pool room, meeting rooms, and a coffee / tuck shop associated with the reception. This would go down well with all the folk that live in that area.
Tuesday, 17 April 2007
Busy period
It has been a hectic period with creating fliers, creating a website, writing a piece for both papers, doing an interview with the radio, campaigning and delivering leaflets. And coming up is the Kirkwall East hustings on Thursday, the Orphir Hustings on Monday and the Kirkwall West Hustings on the 26th, and a thousand more leaflets to deliver - oh and there is the job and the family!
It highlights the demands and strains it puts on other priorities in life and proves to me that the job of councillor cannot accompany a full time job elsewhere.
If elected I will stop my current full time job, to give the OIC the commitment it needs to do it right.
It highlights the demands and strains it puts on other priorities in life and proves to me that the job of councillor cannot accompany a full time job elsewhere.
If elected I will stop my current full time job, to give the OIC the commitment it needs to do it right.
I was ahead of the game !
I was out in Orphir campaigning on Monday 16th and made inquiries about holding a surgery in the Community Rooms. As there was not a Hustings meeting I felt it was important to have a surgery in the Community Centre so folk could come and grill me, face to face.
However, the Community Council met on the Monday night and were in touch today to ask if I could attend a Hustings meeting on Monday 23rd April at 7.30pm.
I will attend this meeting, so now feel that I probably dont need to hold a surgery, and I encourage people to come along to the hustings, where you will see all the candidates and be able to pose questions to all of them.
I still encourage people to phone me on 875969 if they would like to discuss issues in private, or if they would like me to visit to speak to them, which I am happy to do.
However, the Community Council met on the Monday night and were in touch today to ask if I could attend a Hustings meeting on Monday 23rd April at 7.30pm.
I will attend this meeting, so now feel that I probably dont need to hold a surgery, and I encourage people to come along to the hustings, where you will see all the candidates and be able to pose questions to all of them.
I still encourage people to phone me on 875969 if they would like to discuss issues in private, or if they would like me to visit to speak to them, which I am happy to do.
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