The vice-chairman of the West Area Committee will be elected by secret ballot next Wednesday. The two candidates are Simon Smith, Conservative councillor for Whitehouse Ward, and ‘our’ Chris Black. Chris was nominated by Chris Lumley , who said:
“I’m not doing this in a party political way. Chris has 23 years of experience on the council and I’d like to see someone elected who was born in Rayleigh”
The 16 district councillors on the committee each have a vote. If votes are tied at 8 each, it will be decided by drawing lots.
If councillors vote on party lines, Simon Smith will surely win by 11 votes to 5. But if people decide that this is such a minor role that having a Lib Dem won’t upset things, Chris Black might do a little better.