By Kira Gibson
The area of Braunstone in Leicestershire has five candidates fighting to get a seat on the county council.
Running as an Independent, David Di Palma is a local from Braunstone.
Mr Di Palma intends to actively campaign for improvements towards road surfaces, environmental issues and class sizes. He also intends to continue campaigning against any forms of bullying and discrimination, with the saying “be kind always” attached to his campaigning.
The independent has served multiple councils over the last 10 years and says he has first-hand experience in financial pressures towards social care and supporting people services due to his disabilities ensuring that he needs support from a social worker.
The Conservative party representative for the seat is Nigel Grundy, who has been a councillor for the Pastures Ward as part of the Blaby District Council for more than three years.
Cllr Grundy is also now in his second term as the chairman of the Enderby Parish Council, and during his time there he has set up a monthly meeting in Enderby library to hear the thought and opinions of those who live there.
This decision was very successful and has been used as an example for excellent community engagement by the county council.
Councillor Amanda Hack is the Labour representative. She lives in Thorpe Astley and was the Braunstone Town Mayor between 2013-2014.
Cllr Hack has been a county councillor for four years after being elected in May 2017 for the Braunstone division and is aiming to keep her seat on the council by winning the election on May 6.
Mary Kapadia (Green Party) is a newcomer to the position with her current party but is enthusiastic about the role.
Previously, she had attempted to become a councillor in the 2019 elections for Fairestone in Blaby as a member of the Labour Party but has since switched parties. She was not elected in 2019.
The final candidate for the county council seats is the Liberal Democrat’s party member, Chris Merrill.
Cllr Merrill has been a councillor for Glen Parva Parish Council for several years. He is also the vice chairman of the Glen Hills Primary School Governors.
The area of Braunstone has got in total five candidates who will be fighting their best to get one of the only 55 seats in the county council elections on May 6, 2021.
