More elections merry-go-round
I thought Cllr Malik was playing a joke on me when he texted at 5pm that there was to be a by-election in Holywell ward of Oxford City Council. But no, he wasn’t; it would appear that Cllr Richard Huzzey (Lib Dem) is stepping down for reasons unspecified, so there will be another election on 12 June. Labour came fourth in this ward, which is mainly university colleges, with very few permanent residents, last week.
Just when I thought it was safe to hang up my rosette, here we go again…
If, as it seems you are, you’re being realistic about the chance of winning this one, perhaps it’d be worth experimenting with trying to arrange university-based public debates about e.g. what local government/governance should be about fundamentally (as that is where the parties diverge most obviously), and inviting the main parties to attend (candidates and perhaps other spokespeople).
It would be interesting at least to see whether there’s any increase in turnout because of it, and what comments come out from student land. In West Lancs we have Edge Hill University, which alwatys provides a pretty low turn out at local elections, so I’d be keen to see what happens.
Of course, it might be too mugh adminsistratively in such a short time, but it would be a change from tramping the streets, and I guess you’re not allowed to tramp the halls of residence in the same way anyway. It might also clash with exams?
Is 12th June 8th week or 9th week? Anything can happen in 9th week, and usually does.
Thursday, 8th Week.