Kent County Council elections: Meet the Thanet candidates

Kent County Council is led by 81 elected councillors to represent people within their division and develop council policy.

Councillors are elected every 4 years, with the next election taking place on 1 May 2025.

KCC is responsible for services including education, roads and transport, social care, waste disposal, strategic planning and more.

Thanet has seven representatives at the county council.

It is likely to be the last election for KCC as government pushes ahead with devolution plans which would see Kent County Council (KCC), Medway Council and all 12 district and borough councils in the county divided into unitary authorities.

Here, the candidates for this May’s election introduce themselves:

Birchington & Rural

Bryan Harrod – Labour

A former postman of 37 years, I am married and live in Garlinge. I have worked and lived my whole life in Kent. I have extensive experience in local government, having formerly been a member of Sevenoaks District Council for 17 years. There I was Labour group leader and chair of a scrutiny committee. I also served on Swanley Town Council for 12 years and I was the first Labour Mayor of Swanley, as well as leader of the council.

I believe the following are important issues which affect the area.

More needs to be spent on Kent’s roads, so that the potholes which plague us are properly dealt with in a timely manner.

One of the most annoying things when trying to get around the area is road works, which seem to be there for ages without work taking place. The county council should be employing more staff to make sure that street works are completed quickly, and not just leave them there without people working on them.

KCC have had a policy of using large firms when procuring contracts. I believe that we should use local firms to carry out local contracts, to boost the local economy.

As I previously lived in a rural area, which had only one bus out and one back, a week, I know how important a better local bus service is for rural communities. A properly funded bus service, that serves all communities, should be a priority.

Fi O’Connor-Green

I’m an Australian of Irish descent. I moved to Broadstairs in 2016. I am currently working as a primary school teacher in an inner London borough. I have taught in maintained Primary schools in Thanet, Canterbury, Hackney and Tower Hamlets. I’ve managed nursery schools in London and Sydney, Australia, written and taught accredited Advanced Diploma courses as well as working as a fruit picker, musician and graphic artist. I am co coordinator of Thanet Friends of the Earth and a spokesperson for Surfers Against Sewage and Plastic Free Schools.

As a Green Party councillor, I will work to ensure that Kent County Council protects and supports our maintained schools, particularly children with special educational needs and disabilities attending Kent schools. I will listen to local residents and do my best to bring your concerns to council. The Green Party will work to maintain our libraries and our parks, Thanet needs representatives on Kent County Council who will speak up for youth clubs such as The Pie Factory. The Green Party believes that county councils must invest in our children so that they have real opportunities to be happy in our society.

Amelia Randall – Reform

As a single mum of two, not so young, boys, I worry constantly about what kind of future they have ahead of them.

When it comes to local politics, Reform UK do not have us under a whip. This means that we can do what is right for our own constituency. I know that I will never be able to please everybody all of the time, but I promise that I will always listen to both sides of an opinion, be open minded and where possible attempt to even find a mutual middle ground that could benefit as many people as possible.

“There are definitely a few things that I am passionate about on a local level and will strive to get on top of:

• Affordable Housing – I know what it is like to not be able to afford a decent home and to worry about homelessness.
• Saving our agricultural land – It is basic common sense that we need farmland as much as we need houses. There is no point in building more and more houses and then not being able to feed the population, because we have built on our agricultural land.
• Support Networks – I have spoken to residents who would like more support within the community and especially if there was some new form of pandemic.
• Sewage In Our Seas – We cannot say we are proud of our beaches while there is sewage being pumped into the seas. As a coastal town, our beaches attract tourism so we rely on them and what they have to offer.

There are many more issues that we need to look into including potholes, rubbish, job opportunities, safety on our streets and of course our event venues.

Having lived in Thanet since I was 13 years old and bringing my boys up here, I have seen first-hand how much things have changed. Leaving school at a young age myself, I have had many jobs locally in restaurants and cafes, insurance, office management and I currently work from home.

Being quite a spiritual person, I am very open minded, non-judgemental and I love motivating people with quotes or creativity.

Cllr Derek Crow-Brown – Conservative

I am Derek Crow-Brown, having had the honour of being your KCC representative for Birchington, Westgate, Westbrook, Garlinge, Minster, Monkton, St Nicholas, Saare, Manston, Acol, Lydden, Woodchurch and a large area of Westwood Cross for the past four years.

In that time, I have supported my member of parliament Sir Roger Gale, dealing with hundreds of casework issues, including welfare, highways, schools, including special educational needs. My other priority as a KCC member has been supporting my seven parish/town councils to the best of my ability, with an excellent attendance rate, attending their meetings and ensuring clear lines of communication regarding happenings at county hall.

I currently serve on numerous committees including, Planning, Highways, Environment, Economic Growth and Floods. I also sit on three outside bodies. As KCC Armed Forces Champion, I am a member of Kent & Medway Civilian-Military Partnership Board. I also serve on the Kent Fire and Rescue Authority and Kent and Essex Fisheries Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority.

I previously served for many years in the Royal Air Force as an instructor in leadership and management and in a senior logistics and leadership role, serving in numerous UK bases and overseas in Oman, UAE, Germany and the Falkland Islands . I was a district councillor for four years and for the past five years have been a parish councillor for Minster Parish Council.

If re-elected, I will continue to work hard to ensure that residents get their fair share of County run services, and make sure that your voice is heard clearly at County Hall.

Deborah Holmes Lib Dem

Deborah Holmes has lived in Thanet for most of her life and says she has witnessed the years of local government neglect that made a mess of the district.

Slowly working through a college education and into design, she learned the discipline of working problems until they are solved. Moving through a very varied career which has also included aviation and the film industry, she now runs a small restoration firm in Kent and holds a belief in sustainable local business.

The negative direction, and politics around Brexit, galvanised her into giving the Liberal Democrats her full support, as she feels they are the best party to protect the values of fairness, kindness and decency.

Deborah also has a passion for passing down skills and confidence to younger, and less able people. She has mentored people through her business, holding strongly the Christian value of supporting those in need, and she strives to empower the next generation.

Her pastimes include researching and preserving local history, protecting the environment, and nearly a decade running a Kent LGBTQ+ support group.

Living in the Villages, and experiencing the blight of poor-quality housebuilding, she wants to see an evidence-based approach to stop over development in densely packed areas such as Thanet, unless it is strictly for local social housing needs.

Behind all of this is a desire to see political misinformation and misconduct ended, and a Thanet where young working people are given better opportunities.

This of course means ensuring Manston Airport is reopened without fail.

Laurie Hudson-Labour

I’ve lived and worked in Kent for over 60 years. As a retired nurse, I understand the challenges our residents face, from accessing healthcare to the rising cost of living. I am committed to being a strong voice for real change, ensuring our communities receive the support and investment they deserve.

One of my key priorities is improving roads and public transport by campaigning for pothole repairs and reliable bus services.

Supporting children with special educational needs is vital, and I will push for better resources and inclusive placements.

Our NHS and social care services need urgent attention, and I will work to reduce waiting times and ensure clear care pathways.

I believe in listening, taking action, and delivering real results for Birchington and our rural communities. With your support, we can make a real difference and build a better future for everyone.

Will Jarman -Green

I’ve lived in Thanet most of my life and am recently retired from working for Porchlight, where I supported  people with their mental health and wellbeing. I now volunteer with the Good Neighbours Service, helping isolated elderly people and also volunteer at Cliftonville Foodbank (I am also a trustee) where I help vulnerable people with a wide range of problems.    In the past I have been a Birchington parish councillor and stood as a Green candidate in Westbrook.

I am passionate about protecting our natural environment, I would campaign to stop the many  insensitive housing developments which are taking up valuable agricultural land and countryside in and around Thanet.

I would also work to:

• Improve local bus services and bring them back into public control
• Improve road safety through measures such as 20mph zones, where supported by the community
• Stop the medieval practice by Southern Water of dumping sewage in our seas
• Improve care services for those in need
• Support local schools and restore investment in youth services
• Promote an economy which prioritises social value and environmental regeneration in place of destructive economic growth
• Protect and maintain our libraries, parks and green spaces

Cllr Phil Fellows – Conservative

Most residents of Birchington will know me. I have been a Birchington Councillor for 10 years at both Parish and District levels. I’m involved with many local groups and organisations, and I am a Trustee of The Village Centre in Birchington. It’s been an honour to represent our community over the years and it feels only natural to want to step up to be your County level representative.

As your County Councillor I can continue to support all the Parish Councils in the division to achieve their ambitions and the many benefits that will bring. I will continue to fight against the mass developments on agricultural land, this has always been my aim and the main reason why I entered local politics.

Whatever developments are coming our way I will make sure our existing residents see the benefits they should and that house builders keep the promises they make on the infrastructure we expect. I’m immensely proud to live in Birchington and I will continue to promote community involvement and support local businesses.

The next few years will be tricky with the local government devolution that’s coming our way and it’s important that residents have someone with the knowledge and experience to steer us through. I am and will be that person and I am ready for difficult tasks and decisions ahead.

Luke Evans – Reform

Luke Evans is a dedicated family man, passionate educator, and committed environmentalist with over 20 years of experience in education.
Known for his love of the outdoors, Luke has spent years championing environmental causes and community projects that make a lasting difference.

He was a proud member of the steering committee for Dane Valley Woods, the founder of Thanet Community Forest School CIO, and the driving force behind the Isle of Thanet Trees and Woods Initiative (ITTWI), the largest tree-planting project in Thanet’s history.

His conservation efforts have transformed local green spaces, and he is eager to continue this vital work if elected as a Councillor.   Luke’s campaign is driven by a deep sense of responsibility to his community. After witnessing a tragic accident on Canterbury Road in January, he has made it his main election pledge to fight for a speed reduction and improvements to the traffic light system to ensure the safety of all road users. His first-hand experience has fuelled his determination to create safer streets for future generations.

Honest, trustworthy, and solutions-focused, Luke brings a positive, can-do attitude to every challenge. If elected, he pledges to work tirelessly for the community, combining his passion for environmental protection with practical action to improve local infrastructure and quality of life. Luke Evans is a leader who listens, acts, and delivers.

Rachel Mummery Lib Dem

Rachel Mummery moved to Birchington in 2018. She has a Maths degree from the University of Leeds and enjoys learning Japanese and playing the harp.

She has spent some time working with NHS Professionals in the Radiology Department at Kent & Canterbury Hospital, and knows how crucial it is for people to be able to access the healthcare they need in a timely manner. As the population of Birchington and the surrounding area continues to grow, she will fight to make sure that the facilities at local medical centres are continually improved so that everyone’s health needs can be met as quickly as possible.

Rachel is a carer for her autistic son and has first-hand experience of the challenges faced by parents and carers trying to navigate their way through the broken SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) system. At a time when headteachers of special schools in Kent are threatening to sue the County Council, she will speak up for the rights of all children to receive a suitable education and work hard to support the families of children who need specialist educational provision in order to access that.

Rachel loves living by the sea and is passionate about protecting our precious coastline. She strives to prevent further sewage dumping, which affects not only the environment but also the health of all who use the beaches, as well as the local tourism industry.

Broadstairs

Charlie Leys -Conservative 

Born and raised in Thanet, I attended Hereson School before settling in Broadstairs with my partner and our two bulldogs, Harold and Bertie. Living here, I see firsthand the challenges our community faces – especially when it comes to traffic, road conditions, and community safety.

My career began in retail, working at Waitrose in Ramsgate before joining the John Lewis commercial sales team in London. After 11 years in the industry, I have recently moved into marketing and events, working for a business in Whitstable. This experience has given me a strong background in problem-solving, customer service, and getting things done – skills I will bring to the County Council.

I believe residents deserve better value for the taxes they pay. That means pushing for more funding from Kent County Council and ensuring our community gets its fair share. Our streets must be safer, and I will work with local officers and Kent’s Police and Crime Commissioner to reduce the petty crime that far too often gets overlooked and leads to worse anti-social behaviour down the line.

As a St. Peter’s resident, I know just how bad the congestion is – especially on Westwood Road during school drop-off times. It’s time for planners to see the problem firsthand and take action. I’m also determined to improve our roads. If elected, I will conduct an annual pothole survey and ensure repairs are made.

Above all, I believe councillors should represent your views, not just repeat the council’s line. I will always stand up for Broadstairs and fight for our community’s interests.

Mike Garner – Green

I’ve been a hard-working District & Town Councillor in Broadstairs since 2019 & this year have also been Chair of the Town Council and the town’s Mayor and believe I’m well placed to best represent my hometown on Kent County Council.

Among my priorities are:

Education – During the last year, I’ve visited many of the town’s schools and am familiar with many of the issues they face due, in part, to continued cuts in their budgets. I will be working to make sure spending is both protected and increased.

Road Safety – As the number of serious accidents on the streets of Broadstairs increases, improving road safety is also a high priority for me. I’ll be working to introduce traffic calming measures, including 20mph speed limits, in residential areas while working with the police to increase enforcement of these measures.

Sarah Thorne Theatre – Another key issue for me is to stop KCC’s plans to sell the only theatre in Broadstairs, the Sarah Thorne. It’s a multi-use venue that, as well as attracting touring companies from around the country, enables local theatre and music groups to put on performances and cannot be sold for development. It was built by public subscription as a War Memorial in the 1940s and should remain as a community venue in the town.

In all my time as a town and district councillor I’ve made sure that I’ve been available to everyone I represent and have tried to make sure that their views are considered when decisions that affect them are made. If elected, I am committed to continuing to do this for the whole of the Town.

Joanne Bright- Labour

Young people are at the heart of my campaign because they are the key to building a healthier, happier, thriving society. To ease the strain on health and social care, we must focus on preventative measures, starting with substantial investment in maternity, children’s and youth services. Every child deserves the best start in life, empowering them to grow into active, responsible citizens who contribute positively to their communities.

As a town and district councillor, I am already dedicated to making Broadstairs a cleaner, safer, kinder place to live, work and visit. I’ve built strong relationships with local schools, established the Broadstairs Youth Forum to amplify young voices, and led initiatives that prioritise community cohesion and inclusion, such as working towards a dementia-friendly town. With over a decade of experience working in schools, I’ve been a passionate advocate for education, championing better pay for teachers and support staff.

As your Kent county councillor, I will build on this work. My key pledges include expanding youth and children’s services, improving SEND provision, making roads safer, enhancing public transport, reducing anti-social behaviour and violence against women and girls (VAWG), and promoting environmental sustainability. I will also push for better funding for health and social care, with a focus on mental health support.

I believe investing in young people and education is the wisest choice we can make. Your vote on May 1 will enable me to make a meaningful difference in our community and start to build a society where everyone thrives.

Claire Goldfinch Liberal Democrat

Claire has resided in Thanet all of her life, attended secondary school in Broadstairs, and then the Thanet Technical College (now East Kent College) to study Social Care/Caring Services (B-Tec ND).

Claire has worked in a variety of care settings including the elderly, physically disabled, learning disabilities, specialist education, and in the community within care homes, schools and private homes. She is currently a full-time carer for her mother and sister.

On a personal level Claire has extensive life experience of the autistic spectrum – having several autistic family members – and related comorbidities. All her life, Claire has advocated for better access for disabled members of her family as well as others in the community.

Claire’s sister attends East Kent Mencap’s day resource centre, a vital service without whose support Claire says the family would be lost. She strives to ensure that those with learning disabilities have a voice and choice, and are heard. She is also passionate about the improvement and efficiency of disabled access for a variety of disabilities in Thanet, including wheelchair users. She wants to secure adequate support and advice for carers as well.

Claire is also keen on making community services for survivors of domestic and sexual violence more accessible, and increasing their level of outreach and support. Additionally Claire aims to establish further community services for mental health support, where the NHS may fall short due to long waiting times. Claire feels that these three policies go hand-in-hand as they are all to do with championing members of the community who are often invisible or left behind.

John Finch – Reform

I’ve had an association with Broadstairs & St Peter’s all my life and have lived here for 54 years. I trained with a local Broadstairs company before eventually becoming self-employed and starting my own business working throughout Kent.

KCC is £100 million pounds in debt and with council tax rises and services being cut I hope to be able to find out where your money is being spent and wasted.

If I’m successful in my attempt to become the KCC councillor representing Broadstairs, I hope to be able to keep our community assets and not let KCC dispose of them. I will campaign to keep the Sarah Thorne theatre open for the benefit of all who use it.

I have already started an online campaign to prevent houses being built in Pierremont park another community asset and not an asset for disposal. We need to hold people to account for their actions and the expenditure of our finances.

I maintain fields are for food and not for unwanted and unneeded houses.

Cliftonville

Lesley Game -Conservative 

My name is Lesley Game and I have had the honour of being your representative for Cliftonville, Kingsgate and Beacon Road for the last eight years.

Living locally in Cliftonville with my family I share many of the concerns you may have whether it’s anti-social behaviour and crime; parking; local jobs; access to health services, care for the elderly – I’m on your side and have been fighting to make our community a better place to live and if re-elected will continue to do so.

I work closely with local community groups and have sponsored a programme of tree planting, a zebra crossing on Northdown Road, worked with others to have bus routes reinstated.  In Reading Street the speed limit is now 20mph, there is better signage and a No HGV sign and in Botany Road  there are now bollards and trees to alleviate some of the parking issues. I have had various speed surveys carried out as I am concerned about the increase in speeding traffic and have grant funded over 12 community projects.

I will continue to work towards making our area a clean, attractive and safe place to live. Continue to fight against anti-social behaviour, work to resolve parking issues.  I am determined that our local hospital’s facilities and GP services are easily accessible to all. Care of the elderly has become vital since the removal of the winter fuel allowance, Family Hubs need to be in the right place and easily accessible.

Peter Mousley – Labour

I am delighted to be the Labour candidate for the division covering Cliftonville, Kingsgate and Beacon Road wards at the Kent County Council elections on May 1.

I am an economist and, after many years of public service working abroad in international development, my wife and I returned to my birthplace in Thanet. I am a third generation Margatonian, now surrounded by three generations of my family who share my love for this special area.

Thanet has so much to offer its residents and families.  But we are in challenging times. Basic needs such as jobs, health and social services, education, housing, infrastructure are all under severe stress. KCC has a crucial role in delivering these needs.

If elected as your councillor I will work alongside you, to ensure that KCC effectively serves these growing needs.  People must have a sense of control over their lives and a positive future to live towards, with opportunities to contribute to their community. This is my goal, and these are my pledges to you:

• Create secure jobs: Building an economy that delivers good wages, job security and opportunities.
• Achieve a Grade A education: Supporting children and young people for a better start in life and ensuring SEND provision is shaped by listening to the families.
• Repair our roads: Getting a transport system that works – fewer potholes, better buses, and affordable fares.
• Fix social care: Creating a care system that puts people first, tackles waiting lists and delivers better support.

Steve Roberts- Green

I am proud to announce that I will be standing in Cliftonville as a Green Party candidate for the KCC elections on Thursday May 1st. I have been working hard as a Town Councillor since 2023 to make Broadstairs a safer, kinder and cleaner town. I will be a strong voice, representing residents, Cliftonville and Thanet as we move towards an East Kent unitary authority.

Key priorities at county level include:

Key Services – Saving and expanding services, we cannot allow children’s, youth, health and care services to be cut.

Road Safety – Making our roads safer, especially for pedestrians. Expanding 20mph zones, increasing safe crossing places and slowing traffic around schools and ‘accident hotspots’ is essential given our high crash data.

Recycling, waste and rubbish – Improving access to waste and recycling for those without transport as well as the removal of rubbish along our highways.

Working toward a plastic free Thanet.

Economic Growth – Greater focus on small, medium size businesses and our town centres as they face great change, while increasing opportunities for our young to benefit from employment, further education or training.

Environment – Seek ways to enhance our open spaces, verges and streets as well as seek and implement alternatives to the use of weedkiller containing glyphosate in our communities.

Cracking down on antisocial behaviour especially on our beaches.

Dr Mo Shafaei Liberal Democrat 

With a Master’s and PhD in Environmental Sciences and a career as an Analytical Chemist, he brings a practical, evidence-based approach to tackling the challenges our community faces. Having lived in Margate for almost a decade, he understands the issues affecting the residents and am committed to making a real difference.

If elected as your councillor, he will focus on three key issues:

1. Affordable and Quality Housing – Many residents face high rents, overcrowding, and poor housing conditions. He will push for fairer rental policies, more social housing, and action against rogue landlords to ensure everyone has access to a safe and decent home.
2. Better Local Services and Healthcare – GP shortages, long waiting times, and underfunded social care are serious concerns. He will fight for better healthcare access, stronger social services, and more support for elderly and vulnerable residents to improve well-being in our community.
3. A Cleaner, Greener Cliftonville – Our streets, parks, and coastline deserve better care. He will work to tackle littering, improve recycling services, and promote sustainable transport to make Cliftonville a cleaner, healthier place to live.

As a Liberal Democrat, he believes in fairness, transparency, and accountability. He will regularly engage with residents to ensure your voices shape the decisions that affect Cliftonville. In his word, “together, we can build a stronger, fairer, and greener community. I ask for your support in making this vision a reality.”

Daniel Taylor- Reform

I am a local businessman and devoted family man, who has great concerns regarding Cliftonville’s future, and want to stand as your voice to make changes before it’s too late.

For far too long, KCC has been represented by various other parties and I’m wondering ‘what have they actually achieved to improve your quality of life during this time???’ The answer as far as I can see is…..Absolutely nothing!!!!. Local taxes have been increased, money has been wasted, and the community has been let down and forgotten. Instead of fulfilling the pledges, they have been disregarded them. This has been by the individuals, with whom we have put all our trust and faith in, to make our future brighter and all we have received so far is false hope and a lot of empty promises.

Cliftonville deserves real action by a representative who will step up, be proactive, deal with issues as they arise and fulfil their pledge given during the local election. That representative is ME!!!

Committed to bringing change desperately needed, and be the voice of our community. Whether tackling crime, improving local services or ensuring our town thrives once again, I want to make a difference, not just for us now, but for our future generations.

It’s time to start putting the people of Cliftonville first, led by someone who is passionate about our community, who actually cares what happens in our lives and who wants to make sure our families and loved ones are safe and happy. The people of Cliftonville should look forward to their future, not continue to live on the bread line like so many do now.

Previous mistakes, none addressed or rectified. No help for businesses, leading to preventable closures, missed opportunities for additional revenue and growth, No rejuvenation to the area. This must change!!

Together we must unite, stand up and be heard. Together we can build a brighter future. Vote for Reform, Vote for Real Change, Vote for Daniel Taylor.

Ian Drive- Independent

I have lived in Thanet for 17 years.

I was a Thanet councillor between 2011 – 2015 and managed the Thanet Citizen Advice Bureau. I quit work early to care for my two learning disabled daughters.

For a decade I have published a blog (www.iandriver.org) which holds to account TDC councillors and officers for mismanagement and misconduct. If elected I will continue to shine a light on wrongdoing by dishonest politicians and officials.

I’m passionate about disability rights, social housing, and ending poverty.

I oppose Labour’s two child benefit cap, its withdrawal of the winter fuel allowance, and its planned  disability benefits cuts. Instead of attacking vulnerable people, a wealth tax and clamp down on rich tax-dodgers.

I’m a lifelong environmentalist. I oppose building houses on Thanet’s farmland. There’s enough previously developed land in Thanet to use instead. I oppose the destruction of nature and support the Save Minster Marshes Campaign.

I’m also an opponent of Southern Water’s never-ending dumping of sewage on our beaches and the use by KCC of cancer causing glyphosate weed killers on roads and in our schools.

An independent candidate who puts people first. I’m not controlled by party bosses in London,  nor forced to support policies I disagree with by party whips.  The old fashioned party political system is collapsing  and more independents like me are filling the vacuum.

Vote for me on 1 May. Putting people and communities first.

Margate

Barry Lewis- Independent

I am standing as an independent candidate in Margate. I am standing on my record of 8 years of fighting for Margate .

I am independent of any national political parties and MPs. I am a servant of residents of Margate not a mouthpiece of national governments. I will continue to support local people fighting for a better future and believe in prosperity not austerity for people.

I resigned from the Labour Party because they deserted the people who voted for them by causing misery, for example taking away for the majority of pensioners their winter fuel allowances.

I will continue to work cross party to defend Margate . I will continue to highlight how money is wasted (Thanet Parkway which both Labour and Tories supported).

I will fight to save vital services such as the Millmead children centre. I will answer my emails and phone promptly. I have a proven record of someone you can trust.

Matthew Brown Liberal Democrat

Matthew is a seasoned local campaigner with a professional background in computing and Internet. He founded and chairs Thanet Creative, a charitable association dedicated to supporting writing and creativity.

Road safety is a key issue for Matthew. He has worked over the years to hold KCC accountable for potholes, unsafe junctions, and similar matters; paying particular attention to making safe the junction of Tenterden Way and Millmead Road where he almost lost his mother, two sisters, and then-unborn niece.

Matthew served for a number of years as an elected parent representative on Sure Start Millmead’s management board, during its transition into a community mutual. He strongly believes that KCC must continue to fund the important work of Millmead Family Hub – a key part of the Dane Valley community. If elected, Matthew plans to invest his efforts into examining pathways to reforming Kent’s Children and Family Social Services to make it a service fit for purpose.

Additionally, he will continue to oppose Southern Water’s habit of discharging sewage into our seas (and onto our blue flag beaches) every time there is heavy rain.

Matthew has chosen to stand as a Liberal Democrat because he is tired of seeing the same faces under different flags. Matthew will offer a real choice of someone different; someone willing to make the effort needed to see some positive change in Thanet. If a degenerative spinal condition and a few spells in hospital couldn’t stop him, then a little bureaucracy and red tape don’t stand a chance.

Marc Rattigan – Conservative 

As a lifelong resident of Margate, I am deeply committed to revitalising our town and ensuring that local voices are heard. I live here with my family and have built my career across healthcare, education, and business management. Trained as a radiotherapist, I later transitioned into education and now own and manage a group of nursery schools across Thanet, providing high-quality early years education to local families.

Beyond my business ventures, I am passionate about restoring Margate’s historic character and am currently leading the extensive refurbishment of the Old Thornton Bobby building on Northdown Road. I also work closely with local charities to support those in need, strengthening our community from the ground up.

A key priority for me is improving youth provision. Too many young people in Margate lack access to safe spaces, activities, and opportunities to develop their skills. I want to change that by pushing for better investment in youth services, creating more facilities, and ensuring young people have a real voice in local decision-making.

As your representative, I will champion redevelopment that benefits residents, not just developers. I believe the younger generation is underrepresented in local government, and I am determined to change that—ensuring every generation has a voice in decision-making. My experience in healthcare, education, and business gives me the skills to tackle key issues like housing, education, and local services effectively.

Margate deserves strong leadership and fresh ideas. I am ready to work tirelessly to deliver real results for our community.

Jack Packman – Labour

I am deeply connected to the Margate community, with a background in housing, community services, and public safety.

Currently, I work as a regional place manager in housing, addressing key issues daily, from rent arrears to mental health struggles and overall community well-being. I understand social housing inside and out, and I have a strong sense of empathy. At 24, I began my management career with Social Enterprise Kent as a contract manager, responsible for delivering East Kent’s community navigation services, tackling social isolation, loneliness, and addressing healthcare, social care, and community health needs.

I have a degree in policing and have since gained valuable experience in community safety, equipping me with deep knowledge of how essential safety and well-being are in our neighbourhoods.

I am a district councillor for Dane Valley, serve as chair of governors at Northdown Primary School and was previously a governor at Drapers Mills. I’ve worked on the Margate Carnival and Margate Christmas events, and I founded the Dane Valley Residents Association. Additionally, I’ve volunteered as an adult in the RAF Air Cadets and was recently honored to become the Mayor of Margate.

I’m dedicated to improving the lives of our residents and working towards a safer, fairer, and more prosperous future. I believe in the power of collaboration, working closely with local organisations, public services, and residents to bring about positive change. Passionate about making Kent a place where everyone can thrive, I’ll work tirelessly to ensure our communities are safe, vibrant, and supported.

Jamie Henderson- Reform

Margate is often voted as the best town in the country and I am ready to fight for the interests of it and Thanet’s residents and businesses from within KCC.

We have a wonderful seaside and great farms, businesses and attractions, they deserve a dedicated passionate local councilor who has worked in the hotels of Margate in the 90s, worked on Thanet’s farms and owned a cafe in Broadstairs and am again now working for a local farming family in Birchington.

Educated at Hartsdown and Dane Court and with a daughter in secondary school and friends in all industries locally. I am pro active and can’t stand to see Margate so dirty, so you will often see me out litter picking to clean up and bring out the best in Margate.

I am for a safe town with opportunities, health and a clean and well maintained infrastructure to promote investment and increase tourism and bring money into our local businesses so that they can create jobs and grow.

I am against crime and antisocial behavior, against pollution from water companies, against the waste of money that can occur in local government contracting, against many of the decisions made by this and the previous government.

Please allow me to represent You.

I welcome support from all and all are welcome to be involved..

Ramsgate

Becky Wing- Green

It’s been a pleasure to represent & support Ramsgate Central Harbour ward residents since 2019 on the Town and District Councils. I’ve been able to help many residents, community groups and businesses with issues and concerns, and worked hard for positive outcomes for all. At Council meetings, I regularly ask for information and constructively challenge decisions to ensure they benefit Ramsgate and its residents, and Thanet more widely.

I’m delighted to have the chance to represent Ramsgate at KCC, and will use my skills & commitment to be a strong voice for Ramsgate residents. With Kent Councils being reorganised, Ramsgate needs informed representation from people who know the town well, so our needs are high on the agenda of the new East Kent Unitary Authority.

With experience in teaching, youth and social work myself, I’m concerned to protect and improve these services. Given youth unemployment in Ramsgate is the highest in the SE, economic growth must focus on supporting our small & medium businesses to expand and take on apprentices.

I’m already working with KCC on road safety, which is vital, especially for pedestrians and around our schools. Keeping our highways and public realm rubbish free, and creating a safe & welcoming town, are important – and as a Green candidate I want to see more street trees and hedgerows, and alternatives to glyphosate weedkiller.

Putting people and places first, second and third has always been my approach, and I hope to take this forward as your representative on KCC.

Claire Hedderman- Labour

I live in Ramsgate and understand the challenges that really concern local residents.

Time and again issues around safe affordable housing, cuts to youth provision, anti-social behaviour, and lack of jobs are raised with me.

Thanet and Ramsgate in particular needs better transport and better access to health care and Tory-run Kent County Council ignore us.

I have held various senior roles in local government, working in education, and am a passionate advocate for the community benefits of volunteering, apprenticeships, local job creation and business start-ups.

Ramsgate has been long neglected by Kent County Council, which focuses on the safe West Kent Tory seats, and there is huge talent here that deserves to do much better.

Standing as a Kent county councillor for Ramsgate, my pledge to our community is to defend it against KCC cuts.

• End Tory KCC waste on reckless spending and call for investment in frontline services.
• Fix social care – tackling poor standards and waiting lists.
• Grade A education – support children and young people for a better start in life. Save local youth services in Ramsgate.
• Repair our roads – invest in transport, fewer road closures, fewer potholes and Improved pathways for people with mobility issues.
• Better buses – campaign for bus routes from Ramsgate to Canterbury.
• Revive our town centre.
• Stop the sewage scandal.

For decades, KCC has squandered your money and let services crumble and blocked the change we desperately need.

We need to fix the barriers and build a safer, fairer and more prosperous community.

Barry Manners- Conservative 

I am standing as a candidate for the Conservative party in the Kent County Council election for Ramsgate, together with my fellow TDC colleague, Cllr. John Davis.

I know I’m not alone in my disappointment that nationally, the Conservative Party failed to address the issues that we care about. Consequently, we’re now saddled with possibly the most misguided and dangerous government in modern British history.

But I am standing as a Conservative because I believe in free enterprise, low taxation, social mobility, law and order and individual freedom.

Conservative control of KCC alone is essential to responsibly and professionally deliver the reform necessitated by inevitable budget cuts and misguided central government policy. During my business career I employed up to 100 people. Sound financial oversight is essential to success – as is the ability to re-imagine ways of getting the job done efficiently.

I very much grew up in Ramsgate and have seen its decline since the 1970s. I want to focus attention on the port as a key component of the town’s regeneration, maximising its tourism and leisure appeal. I have no interest in destructive and expensive net zero policy and overpaid consultants telling us what we already know. Instead I want to see KCC working directly in the community to improve biodiversity and the natural environment in which we live and work. I also support Grammar Schools – motivated youngsters deserve every opportunity to succeed.

I will be campaigning around the town, together with Cllr John Davis. Please stop and have a chat.

Jeremy de Rose Liberal Democrat

Jeremy was brought up in Surrey and is the son of a firefighter. He has lived in Thanet for fifty years.

He joined British Rail as a guard in 1973 and finished in a managerial position at the Euston HQ in 1997. He then worked in a rail support company for twenty-five years.

Jeremy was a trustee of the Spitfire Museum at Manston for twelve years, eight as chairman. He is especially proud of the wonderful Air Days that they organised.

He says he left the Labour party because of their abandoning of the working class, and their opposition to the reopening of Manston airport. He joined the Liberal Democrats in 2017, mainly because of their position on Brexit.

Jeremy wants to see more local control and leadership of council responsibilities. He is opposed to the unitary authority policy that has been proposed, and feels it is about being able to control the masses.

In recent years Jeremy has had some health problems and thus is very aware of the importance of the NHS and social care. He wants to see Kent to lead in integrated care and health.

As chair of Thanet Liberal Democrats, he is proud to have nurtured a local party of local working-class people, from all diverse backgrounds.

Jeremy is a committee member of the Kent section of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, and wants to see a complete overhaul of Thanet’s road systems and public transport, as with over-development they have been left in mismanaged chaos.

Thea Barrett – Green

As a young person growing up in Ramsgate, I have consistently seen my generation’s hope for a fair, green future move further away. We have continuously missed opportunities to tackle the biggest issues facing us, particularly the climate crisis.

Thanet’s economic difficulties deserve to be met with real action with people at the heart of it. As a KCC councillor my focus will be on ensuring public services meet the growing demand the overdevelopment of housing is creating, whilst helping build our economy in increasingly difficult circumstances.

I will ensure safer pedestrian areas with the expansion of 20mph zones and campaign to save vital youth services such as the Pie Factory. Becky Wing and I will campaign to enhance local open spaces and focus on small and medium businesses so they can thrive and ensure better job opportunities for the people of Thanet.

The people of Ramsgate deserve representation that reflects who they are, as well as fighting for a fair and green future for the next generation, and generations to follow. As someone who grew up here, attending local primary schools and Chatham & Clarendon, I believe I have the local knowledge to represent the people of Ramsgate.

I am delighted to be standing alongside Cllr Becky Wing from whom I have learned so much on important issues over the past few years. My beliefs in equality are deep rooted and reflect those the strong & supportive movement the Green Party has built since its formation.

Helen Whitehead- Labour

I’m Cllr Helen Whitehead, deputy leader of Thanet District Council, cabinet member for housing across Thanet, and I am standing for Ramsgate for the KCC elections. I am determined to improve the SEN and education system in Kent, increase the accessibility of healthcare, and strengthen public transport.

I have lived in Thanet for over 35 years, growing up in Ramsgate and attending Clarendon for all of my secondary education. My family live in Ramsgate, and I am frequently involved in the regeneration of Ramsgate assets, including the successful work to secure funding to bring the Madeira Walk waterfall back into operation.

My professional life has included being a deputy headteacher at an SEN school, over two years working for a KCC/NHS partnership to improve housing provision for neurodivergent people across Kent and Medway, and teaching within specialist and secure units. I know the changes we need to make within education and healthcare, and I am determined to do everything I can to deliver them.

I have nearly six years of experience of being a councillor, and as cabinet member for housing I have increased Thanet’s development of new council homes from an average of 18 per year over the last decade to more than 400 in production over the last 18 months. I have also ensured that we purchase over 200 properties in Thanet for temporary accommodation, to bring back our families placed outside the district.

I will do my very best to represent you well at Kent County Council.

John Davis -Conservative 

I’m both privileged and delighted to be standing to represent the people of Ramsgate at the County Election on the 1st May.

As a current District and Parish Councillor, I am known for providing a strong voice for our community, and for my support for community organisations and better public engagement, which, as the total restructuring of local government gathers pace, will be particularly important, in order that we are properly and effectively represented at County level during the transition to Unitary councils in Kent.

I have campaigned for more than a decade, with many others of all political persuasions, for the devolution of the currently centralised and too remote decision making process to local communities. This huge change for the better is now commencing, and our Ramsgate community needs to be represented with real knowledge, experience, and a passionate commitment to actually deliver real-world outcomes, a situation which has been sadly lacking for far too long.

I promise to work to provide the change this community deserves, by, for example, championing job creation through environmentally responsible regeneration, to help ensure the best possible future prospects for our children and grandchildren.

Proud to provide a strong voice for our community at District Council, I would be privileged to do so on your behalf at Kent County Council, through the years of change ahead. Please trust me with your vote!

Trevor Shonk – Reform

For over 30 years I have worked at the Monkton Nature Reserve of which I am also a trustee. I also put hundreds of hours into clearing litter and rubbish in Newington, making our estate a cleaner and better place to live.

I have routinely voiced my concerns about building thousands of new homes on some of the best agricultural land in the country. I am a fervent and enthusiastic supporter of further economic activity in the port and harbour. I would like to see greater involvement of our small local businesses, which are key to a dynamic and prosperous future for Ramsgate.

I am keen to see town centre improvements in Ramsgate.

I am standing for KCC the local voice as always.

I have had a great journey In politics. Ramsgate is at my heart and always will be. People before politics.

Harry Goldfinch Liberal Democrat

A lifelong resident, he first studied Music at East Kent College in Broadstairs, and later at Canterbury Christchurch University on the Broadstairs campus, and faced the challenges that the closing of the campus caused. It taught him an early lesson about the unique problems Thanet faces.

Harry is involved with the care of his autistic aunt and physically-disabled Grandmother, which led him to build a career in support work in various capacities, which include children and youth, adults with learning disabilities, the elderly, children’s mental health and families. This imbued him with an expansive insight, empathy, and compassion into the lives of everyday people, the varied struggles they face, and how vital the care system is.

Being Neurodivergent himself, Harry feels this helps him to connect deeper, having faced all the challenges that came with being young, with profound support needs.

His experiences have staunchly reinforced his inclusive, anti-discrimination and anti-oppressive beliefs.

With his family and wife all living in Ramsgate, he is now undertaking an MA in Social Work; a powerful new tool that has allowed him to see society with an even clearer lens.

Harry wants greater funding, and community outreach for Thanet youth to thrive as who they are, including access to creative arts, activities, and mentoring; as well as better, more streamlined local support for neurodivergent people.

Terry Mole- Reform

I live in Ramsgate and I am keen to represent local residents in the forthcoming KCC election on the 1st of May.

I am a local businessman with my own company and have become increasingly frustrated at the poor state of local services offered by both KCC and TDC.

This is an election that nearly did not take place, putting at risk the democratic right of residents to vote. The Labour Party pushed through plans to form Unitary Authorities and the Conservative led Kent County Council acquiesced in the hope of not facing an election.

Council Tax has risen by 25% in 5 years while services have seriously declined. Roads are full of potholes and rarely swept, drains are frequently blocked. Volunteers are now stepping in to clear litter and maintain parks and gardens. This should not be.

The new Thanet Parkway Station cost £44 million to build, the surrounding land is now earmarked for more housing to add to the thousands already built. Farmland will soon be a distant memory.

The cost of all this house building is measured in the environmental damage of further congestion on our roads and the threat to our water supply and the continuing release of sewage into our rivers and seas.

Kent County Council is in debt to the tune of £740 million. The debt interest alone adds to £84,000 per day that residents are called on to pay.

Kent County Council need to take ownership of these problems. KCC needs new people with new ideas to turn it around.

If you want change The Reform Party offers that change. Vote Reform.

Thanet Villages district by-election

A by-election for Thanet council’s villages seat will also be held on May 1.

The candidates are:

• Ash Ashbee Conservative
• Graeme Birchall Independent
• Ian Driver Thanet Independents
• Peter Evans Reform
• Bryan Harrod Labour
• Deborah Holmes Lib Dem
• Will Jarman Green