Meet the four vying to be Torbay Tories' next candidate

TORBAY Tories will be selecting their Prospective Parliamentary Candidate at an an Open Hustings Meeting on Monday 25th February, 6pm at the Palace Hotel, Babbacombe.

The Executive Council of Torbay Conservative Association has selected four candidates. They are:

TIM BUTCHER:  has very significant experience in the world of business. He is one of the leading construction underwriters in the world. Tim is not someone who has only studied politics at university, then worked in a political research department and now wants to be a Member of Parliament!

Tim, who has had a house in Devon for the last thirty years, has been a County Councillor for a number of years. He understands the vital link between local government and the local communities it serves.

Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk

myprint-247

View details

Print voucher

Our heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.

Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk

Contact: 01858 468192

Valid until: Friday, May 31 2013

"I have an old fashioned view that politicians are there to support  people and to help increase their quality of life. I want to be Torbay's representative in parliament not the other way round".

Tourism, jobs, transport, education and effective local policing are Tim's key political priorities. He believes there is much to be done to help Torbay that is not being addressed currently. He does, however, believe strongly in being honest with people about what can, and what cannot, be achieved.

"I will never make a pledge or a promise I know I cannot keep. My life's watchwords are decency, hard work, commitment, principle and integrity".

Tim has extensive campaigning experience, is well known for his charitable fund raising abilities and knows how to communicate his message within all levels of society.  "I have experience as a businessman, a Councillor, a Governor of a Special Needs School and a community fundraiser. I have experience of life. That is sometimes lacking in today's politics. I have thirty years uninterrupted voluntary grassroots service for the Conservative Party. I want to bring that experience to bear for the people of Torbay and its local economy".

KEVIN FOSTER: "Born in Devon, Kevin grew up in Plymouth where he attended his local comprehensive school before studying Law and International Economic Law at University. He has many fond childhood memories of time spent in the bay area and also a summer working as a delivery driver for Granada TV rental with days spent at their stores in Torquay and Paignton. He joined the party in 1995 and during his student years was involved with Torbay Young Conservatives. His father spent 37 years as a labourer/painter in Devonport Dockyard and his Mother works as a teaching assistant.

Like many others who grew up in the South West, Kevin moved away to pursue his career and has been an elected member of Coventry City Council since 2002. He stood for Parliament in Coventry South at the 2010 General Election. Over the last two years Kevin has been splitting his time between the Midlands and Devon due to the ill health of a close relative. His key policy interests include promoting opportunity, transport and developing an enterprise based economy with the infrastructure needed to innovate."

CARLEEN KELEMAN: is best known for her successful partnership approach to regeneration and in  working with people of all ages to access better opportunities. An Australian by birth and a British citizen by choice, Carleen is an experienced business person who has put business and people at the heart of the economic and social agenda. Currently Chairman of the Institute of Directors for Devon and Cornwall, Carleen is married to Jim Thomson and she was awarded the OBE for Social Justice and Economic Inclusion in the Queens Jubilee Year Honours list. " 

CHRIS LEWIS: was appointed Deputy Mayor of Torbay in 2009 after only two years on the council, held the portfolio for economic regeneration, transport and planning and since the election of 2011 has held the portfolio for chldrens, sechools and families. He said: "I live in and believe passionately in Torbay – a great place to live, work and visit. I want to help improve the Bay and secure a future for all the youngsters in the constituency including my two young boys. There is a lot to be done! Hence my joining the Council six years ago and why I have put my name forward to be the next Member of Parliament for Torbay.

Changes can only be achieved by all working together – the MP, the Mayor, the Council and all the residents of the Bay. This has not happened in the past but must be the future we must build the team. We must not lose this opportunity to align politically."

He pledged to work hand in hand with the Mayor and Council to promote Torbay for Inward Investment and further Economic Regeneration, urge the Government for greater help to seaside resorts so that they can create more jobs and better wages, support the reduction in red tape and bureaucracy for the many small and medium size companies in the Bay and encourage the Government to re-look at the business rating system.

He will campaign for greater help for our many elderly residents, especially with fuel and water costs that have now become a major problem for many, a reduction in VAT on tourism activities, to align with the much lower rates in Europe.

The four will be questioned by a moderator, and answer questions from the audience before a critical vote is taken to decide on who will represent the Torbay for the Conservative Party in the General Election in 2015 Anyone on the Electoral Roll for Torbay constituency, as well as Torbay Conservative Association members, are entitled to attend but MUST pre-register if they wish to attend and vote at this meeting. Pre-registration must take place by Friday 22nd February 2013. To pre-register please contact: 01803 557753, email torbayca@virginmedia.com or log on at Torbay Conservative Association website torbayconservatives.com giving full name, address and telephone number. Registration will not be acknowledged, however anyone proving illegible to attend will be advised. Pre-registered Electors must arrive before the meeting starts to allow for verification process. This will begin at 5pm and the Meeting will begin promptly at 6pm. Electors entering the meeting after the candidates have started to speak will be ineligible to vote. The venue has a maximum safe capacity and once the number of pre-registrations has reached this limit no further pre-registrations will be allowed.