Being a potential canditidate for the local elections still feels very strange. This is very much a new experience, despite having been involved in the machinations of local politics before. However, the support from family and friends has been amazing. Of course, I knew my family would be supportive, it's what families do, but I have been surprised and delighted by the level of enthusiasm shown by friends and work colleagues. Most especially, the level of dissappointment in onel close friend when they realised that they live just outside University ward and won't be able to support me with their vote (obviously, I've suggested he vote for John Potter instead).
During the last week I have had my first Focus leaflet published. Thanks to John Potter, it is up to the high standard I am used to seeing on his own Focus leaflets as a resident of Tulketh Ward. Along with help from Liam Pennington they've now all been distributed around University Ward. The stop-start plod as one checks yet again to see if you're on the correct side of a certain street to be within the ward boundary a welcome familiar aspect of this whole experience.
I have already had some feedback from the leaflets. Oddly enough it was on tuesday night whilst working in Warehouse nightclub. A customer and her firend came up to me and said they had seen the leaflet and that they like the fact that there is someone they can vote for whom they know to see around and feel they can approach. So I'm officially pleasant and approachable, a good start I think.
I also attended my first PACT meeting this week, where I met some of my potential constituents, several of the Police officers and PCSO's working in the ward, as well as Carl Crompton, the current Councillor for the ward. As it was my first meeting I didn't make a point of introducing myself to everyone, but nonetheless I was made to feel welcome.
It is nice to see the Police and PCSO's taking PACT meetings as seriously as they do as it shows to me a commitment to the community that I feel many people simply do not believe exists. I also think now that maybe I should have been attending PACT meetings before deciding to stand, as I like to think of myself as an active member of the community, and these are an important part of that. I can safely say that these meetings will be important and useful in becoming better connected with the community, and becoming a more active part of it, and I will be encouraging others to attend in future.
