An bye-election has been triggered by the requisite number of demands for a vote to elect a successor to the late John Izod on to Rye Town Council.
However demanding an election is one thing, but it would appear that finding a candidate is quite another as no-one has yet put themselves forward. Elections cost money and the notice announcing this one will be posted on June 23, with the election, itself, to be held on July 28, barely a month after the referendum - when much of the Town might feel that a rest from non-stop campaigning would be a good thing.
In order for an election to be held there must - at least in this country - be at least two candidates. The alternative, if there is just one, or no candidate, or no demand for an election is for the council to co-opt (or even leave the position vacant). This is a not-infrequent solution and last happened here only last year when long-serving councillor Sam Souster resigned from the town council after his surprise defeat for Rother District Council (which in view of the silence and invisibility of his successor, some may now be regretting). There were then several possible candidates, but no demand for an election so one was co-opted.
Who are these people, one wonders, who are so desperate for an election, why do they want it and where is their candidate? Doubtless time will tell, but in the meantime, your Town Council must prepare for an unnecessary expense. In the 19th century there were rotten boroughs, (an indeed, there are some who would contend that at least one still exists) these were boroughs with no voters but nevertheless returned a member of Parliament. Here, being Rye, we like to do things differently and have plenty of electors, but no potential member for the Council.
Photo: Rye News library
