A short while ago, we announced the names of the four candidates standing for Rye Town Council in the bye-election to be held next Thursday. We had wanted to interview them to find out where they stood on a number of subjects, some of which were suggested by our readers. As their phone numbers (apparently ex-directory) and email addresses were not available either publicly or to the Town Hall, three of them have been approached with a request for an interview either through the good offices of friends who know them or through the Town Hall emailing their proposers.
The fourth we knew personally and have conducted an interesting and informative interview. Tempting though it is to publish it, it would be invidious to do so without being able to compare it to answers given by the others.
Sadly we have to advise our readers that, despite our request, not one of the other three has shown any interest in giving us their views and so far only one of them seems to have circulated a leaflet outlining their stance (albeit in very vague terms with no details). So why are they standing? Only their friends and acquaintances will know who they are, nobody else knows what they stand for or whether they will have any more backbone than the current lot who couldn't even vote to support our RDC councillors on discussing parking control last week, despite knowing that the town - as evidenced at the public PCC meeting - want to see just that.
One has to ask, why bother to vote at all? If most of them have such contempt for their electorate that they can't be bothered to explain themselves, why should they expect us to vote for them? It would be a salutary lesson both to them and to the rest of the Town Council if the election was boycotted. It is also worth remembering that this election is costing the Town (and therefore us, the council tax payers) several thousands of pounds. The least we should expect is that the candidates would justify this expenditure.
Rye deserves better - a lot better - than this.
