LibDem meeting last night

[ramtops]

was interesting. We have started discussing budgets and strategies, not only for the elections next May, but for the forthcoming General Election in, presumably, 2009; and now, somehow, I feel a part of it all, rather than a bystander.

one might think it quite flattering to be asked to consider standing as a local councillor in 2007. Except that they want me to consider standing here in the village, where there is no hope of us winning :)

still, if I do want to be involved, it would be good practice, and being a school governor will get my name out there in a small way in a few months time. I shall have to ponder. My biggest fear is Stephen Twiggery - I don't want to stand and then find that - inexplicably - I win, unless I can be utterly sure that I want to do it, and b) can find the time to do it. Still, I have a few months (but not many) to think about it.

Comments

[ramtops.livejournal.com]

congratulations!

but as I said, I need to be sure that I can cope in the very unlikely event that I win. And I'm not sure that I have the time right now - and I think I'd be much happier as a backroom person.

I'm happy to run EARS, do the leaflets design, knock on doors, etc. But I'm not sure I want to be a representative. Still, I'll think on, as they say.

[brisingamen.livejournal.com]

I understand your dilemma. When I stood before, I was fairly certain I wasn't going to win, but there was a point when I wondered whether the unthinkable might happen, and how I would cope. The trouble is, no matter how securely 'other' the seat is, if you run a really good campaign you may win ... And I know from stories I've heard that it can be a real propblem if a 'paper' candidate does inadvertently win!

[timill]

Can a winning candidate demand a recount?

[brisingamen.livejournal.com]

Tricky ... it depends on what point in the process it's okay to for the agent to kill the candidate and thus force a by-election. I think by the time the count comes around, it's another by-election rather than the ballot standing as is.

[ramtops.livejournal.com]

it happened here in - I think - 1997. The Libdems went from about 14 to 29* seats, and quite a lot of people who stood were somewhat taken aback to find they were now councillors.

*date and numbers approximate - this is just from something that someone said last night.

[brisingamen.livejournal.com]

I heard similar stories on my travels in Kent recently. It was a huge problem for the party as they now had a clutch of highly reluctant councillors.