Voters will also be taking to the polls on Thursday to decide on who will fill one third of seats on Swale council.

In Sittingbourne, there will be elections in eight wards:

* denotes sitting councillor

Chalkwell

Emma Bridge (Con)

Emma Bridge is a young enthusiastic person who was brought up in Chalkwell Road, attending Barrow Grove Primary and Highsted Grammar Schools before gaining a degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in Oxford. She’s a former Carnival Queen.

Now 25 and working locally Emma Bridge feels it’s time a younger person brought some fresh thinking to the council.

She has already started by acting on concerns raised with her by residents over the lack of recycling facilities in blocks of flats in the ward and persuaded the council to make improvements.

Emma believes there’s a lot to be done to solve traffic problems in Sittingbourne, especially the parking needs of residents.

She also feels a lot could be done to improve the appearance of some parts of the town with a little TLC and supports long term plans for major investment and the rejuvenation of Sittingbourne Town Centre.

David Spurling (Lib Dem)

David Spurling worked for British Rail and on Marine safety before teaching. He has set up an academically successful college in Nairobi, Kenya. His latest book is on transport economics.

The other 12 textbooks he has written give people the chance to study for professional or degree exams without enormous expense. He wants to use his experience to help Swale with a multimodal transport plan and also to form a local college.

He lives in the ward and has been a councillor in both Swale and Southend on Sea.

Roger Truelove (Lab)*

Roger Truelove was first elected to Swale Borough Council in 1987 and has also served as a Kent County Councillor, so has vast experience and knowledge of local government.

In Chalkwell Ward he has campaigned for environmental and road management improvements, against the council hike in residents parking fees and supported many local groups on planning issues.

Roger is Regeneration Spokesman for Labour on Swale council, as he was on Kent County Council until last year.

He says he wants to see his ward getting better services on such areas as street cleaning and as a member of Swale Council he wants a much more urgent approach to the issue of town centre renewal.

Roger is very interested in sport and recreation and wants to see Swale supporting participation for all ages and abilities, but also real encouragement for outstanding young sportsmen and women.

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Grove

Bernie Lowe (Lib Dem)

Bernard represented Milton Regis Ward until the boundary changes and then moved to Grove Ward which had consumed part of the old Milton Regis borders.

He was proud to represent the people of Grove Ward until he lost his seat in 2006, and became an Honorary Alderman.

Bernard says it would be interesting to see what the shape of our council would be if we ditched this unfair system of voting.

Nationally Liberal Democrats are committed to reforming our electoral system so that everyone’s vote really does count.

He said: “If elected on May 6, I will fight my corner for the residents of Grove Ward and will keep them informed of my activities.”

James Nash (UKIP)

James Nash, 20, went to Borden Grammar School and studied at Canterbury College. He says he is open, approachable and genuinely believes that he will represent people in the ward, above UKIP.

He was at college when he developed his fascination in politics. Before that, his love of writing was his only career path.

He said: “I’ve never been a person lusting for power but I discovered politics doesn’t have to be like that. We really aren’t all the same. I lust to make things better. For all of us.

“The area has been my home for my entire life and I strongly believe I can transform Grove Ward into a safe place where the residents don’t feel ignored and the politicians don’t feel too distant.

“After all, I’m like the rest of you. I will represent the residents and workers, not follow my own agenda.”

Gareth Randall (Con)*

Gareth Randall is proud to be the 'local guy’. He was born in Grove, educated locally and lives in the ward, so he knows the area well including the Meads Estate. He is an IT administrator and travels each day to London by coach.

Gareth opposes the Labour policy of forcing councils to favour 'traveller sites’ in the planning system when the rest of us have to abide by the rules, recently opposing sites at Bobbing and opposite the Crematorium.

He supports the police and community PACT group, Bobbing Parish Council and is trying to resolve parking problems at Grove Park School.

Gareth wants developers to provide better energy solutions and insulation in new homes to reduce heating costs, protect our environment and reduce carbon emissions.

He is keen to see new affordable homes built, not high density small flats unsuitable for family living, lower taxes and family friendly policies.

Kenneth Rowles (Lab)

Ken is a Film Director and Chief Executive of the Swale Film Festival.

He is also deeply committed to the provision of decent social and affordable housing in the borough.

He says that more must be done to provide social facilities on the Meads Estate and also says he wants to see the Northern Relief Road in future taking heavy traffic away from the London Road.

Like other Labour candidates in the Sittingbourne area, he condemns the Tory administration for dragging its feet over the Town Centre plan. He says he will listen to all the people of Grove Ward.

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Anne Jenkins (Lib Dem)

Anne is a mother herself and also works with children so knows the importance of a good start in life for our youngsters.

She is a firm supporter of the Liberal Democrats’ proposed Pupil Premium which would provide extra investment in our schools.

With the money being spent to cut class sizes and increase the availability of one-to-one tuition.

It would also give teachers and schools much more freedom from government meddling and more time to teach and less time on administration.

If elected Anne would maintain to two-way dialogue with the residents and be prepared to put their interests first above party politics.

Gerry Lewin (Con)

Gerry Lewin has lived in Upchurch since 1978 and has been a borough councillor for 19 years.

He is married to Dianne and with two grown up daughters.

He is also a member of Upchurch Parish Council, organises the Poppy Appeal and is a governor of both Lower Halstow School and Highsted Grammar.

Currently Gerry Lewin is the Deputy Leader of Swale council where he holds the Culture and Sustainable Planning Portfolio.

In recent years Gerry Lewin has battled hard to protect the area from the effects of the Labour policy of giving preferential planning treatment to 'traveller sites’ and ignoring the rights of the majority of residents.

He believes a change in planning laws under a Conservative government could produce more successes.

Gerry believes that 'the family’ should be more strongly recognised as being at the heart of communities – something ignored and devalued by the Labour Government.

Richard Palmer (UKIP)

Richard Palmer is 52 years old and married, with three children and four grandchildren.

Richard says he became involved in politics in September 2009 because of his 'disenchantment with the political system and its abuse of power’.

He said: “Elected representatives need to listen and represent the people in their ward and the council needs to listen and work for the people of Swale.”

He feels this is not currently the case and he wants to change this.

After 11 years of service in the Army, Richard started a First Aid Training Company in 1996.

Now a member of the Federation of Small Businesses, he feels he understands the battles a small business endures.

He also seeks to improve opportunities for young people and ensure local people have a voice in matters that affect them.

Ruth Walker-Grice (Lab)

Ruth Walker-Grice says she makes no apology for saying that the people of this rural ward deserve better representation from their local councillors.

She says there is at present too little attempt to involve and inform local people and that far too often the views of local people are neither asked for nor represented.

She said: “In brief, this ward is being taken for granted by its current councillors and it needs to change.

“We want to see a lot more openness on matters such as traveller sites and four guns fields. It is never a good thing for a seat on the council to be seen as a sinecure.”

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Kemsley

Martin McCusker (Lab)

Martin McCusker is an Assistant Head Teacher in Primary Education and lives in the Kemsley Ward.

He says the local Tory Council has failed alarmingly in the regeneration of Sittingbourne.

He also says there are far too many housing developments to the north of Sittingbourne, where houses have been built but few or no social facilities have been provided.

He campaigned strongly for the instatement of roads and footpaths on the Kemsley Field Estate and believes that street cleaning is badly neglected in the old Kemsley Village.

Martin says Swale needs to improve its performance on the provision of affordable housing.

Brenda Simpson (Con)*

Brenda Simpson lives with her mother, daughter and numerous animals at Grovehurst Farmhouse with the ward, which she has represented for 22 years.

She is passionate about the environment and is a dedicated conservationist. Her love of animals drives her concern for their welfare and protection, often re-homing older ones on her farm.

Brenda is a feisty, determined and outspoken member of Swale Council, she has always put 'people before politics’ even when it meant conflict with her own party colleagues.

Most residents of Kemsley, of whichever political persuasion, have found Brenda to be a keen and very active ward councillor keeping regularly in touch with them, not just at election time. She really cares about the area she represents and is always available to advise and press their concerns.

Brenda Simpson is concerned to ensure that Kemsley is not simply submerged in more housing and large commercial units.

Mary Zeng (Lib Dem)

Mary Zeng has lived in Milton Regis for more than six years. She has academic qualifications in economics and business administration and works in sales for a large international company.

Mary has lived and worked in Beijing, the USA and around the south east of England and has gained great business experience working within different environments and cultures.

Her interests include local business and regeneration of the Swale area, the creation of jobs and employment within Sittingbourne and the protection of the local environment.

If elected as councillor for Kemsley, Mary would campaign against the development of the waste incinerator taking in waste from all over the south east.

She agrees with residents’ concerns over smell and pollution as well as the inability of the small roads to incorporate even more large vehicles.

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Murston

Shelley Cheesman (Lab)

Shelley is the daughter of legendary former Labour councillor, Daisy Cheesman.

Shelley says she wants to emulate her mother and provide a caring and personal service to the people of Murston.

She says that Murston, until recently, was well represented by local Liberal Democrats but believes that era has passed and that now there is too little work being done to involve and support Murston’s distinctive community.

She says it is important for councillors to listen to all the people of the ward and not just to the loudest and most immediate. She said: “Murston now needs a bit more TLC.”

Shelley also wants to see more urgency being shown on the issue of town centre regeneration and on meeting targets for affordable housing.

Ed Gent (Con)

Ed Gent is well known to many in Murston having lived most of his life in the area, attending both local infant and junior schools.

He is married with a teenage daughter, so he knows the problems the young experience due to lack of youth facilities in this part of the town.

Ed is a trained horticulturalist and many residents see him daily as he looks after our parks and open spaces as contracts manager for a local grounds maintenance contractor.

Ed is only too well aware of the problems facing long term residents of Murston and those of the newer estates, caused by traffic and the rapid growth of development east of the town.

He believes the proposed new eastern link of the Northern Relief Road, if not carried out in full, will further exacerbate these problems in Murston.

Keith Nevols (Lib Dem)

Keith has lived in Milton Regis since 2004 and works as an office manager in local government in London.

He has academic qualifications in politics and law and his interests include the church as a member of the local church council, travel and history.

In recent years Keith has campaigned on many issues including the local economy, regeneration, public transport and anti-social behaviour – including an active involvement in Murston PACT meetings.

Keith was selected as the Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for the general election and, if elected as MP, intends to keep an involvement within the council and thus be able to put local people and issues as the first priority.

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Roman

Lloyd Bowen (Con)

Lloyd Bowen has lived in Swale for many years and therefore can empathise with residents of Roman Ward and the problems they experience in going about their daily lives.

For instance the Swanstree Avenue highway extension has created almost as many problems for residents around it as it has solved the problems of those outside the area and these outstanding issues need to be resolved.

Lloyd has been a parish councillor for five years and is currently vice-chair of the Kent Association of Local Councils (KALC) and represents Swale on the KALC Executive which will stand him in excellent stead as your borough councillor for Roman.

Recently married Lloyd works as an office manager in employment relations and enjoys playing squash and getting involved in green issues.

Simon Clark (Lab) *

Simon is an experienced councillor. He has a special interest in planning and transportation issues and says he is glad the Labour Government found the funding for the Northern Relief Road.

He says the Tory Council has wasted far too much money on consultancy fees for the Sittingbourne Town Centre and for the third stage of the Northern Relief Road.

He wants to see a much sounder approach to council budgeting and has condemned the council for failing to take up the Government’s free-swimming initiative.

Simon has fought hard for the Roman Ward over the last few years, backing local residents on planning issues, road planning and in the provision of community facilities.

He says he believes the current council is too easily focussed on rural areas and on the Faversham part of the borough.

David Phillips (Lib Dem)

David is a local school teacher with a young family who knows the value of good education.

David is delighted that the Liberal Democrats have made education one of its top priorities, as he believes every child needs to get a good education as it is the best way to get on in life and get a good job.

He is concerned that new graduates are leaving university with a high level of debt while they struggle to find a job, often deterring the most talented from even attending.

He said: “I support the Liberal Democrats pledge to do what they achieved in Scotland with a hung parliament, where they had influence to scrap tuition fees for all students, full-time and part-time taking their first degrees.

“I believe a university education should be free to everyone who has the necessary ability.”

If elected David has pledged to regularly keep in touch with residents.

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Teynham and Lynsted

Aaron Donkin (UKIP)

No information supplied

David Feltham (Lab)

David is a well-known local artist and historian.

He says he knows Teynham very well and wants to keep the distinctive nature of the village.

He is concerned that the enthusiasm of the Tory parliamentary candidate for a southern relief road from the A2 to the M2 may be advanced without reference to the people of Teynham and Lynsted.

David recognises the need for change in the Sittingbourne area but says he wants to keep the sense of local culture and tradition that has always been part of this area of Kent.

Trevor Fentiman (Con) *

Trevor Fentiman was born, went to school, lives and works in Swale as manager of a local heating company.

He has been a borough councillor for nine years.

This ward is the largest area in Swale covering not only Teynham and Lynsted but also Conyer, Luddenham, Oare, Norton and Tonge which is why he considers it so important to attend as many of the parish council meetings as he can to ensure the views of residents are heard at Swale House.

Trevor feels the future holds many potential issues affecting the lives of everyone particularly the new Northern Relief Road for Sittingbourne which will present as many problems for residents of this ward as it does resolve traffic problems of the wider community of Swale.

The road will bypass Sittingbourne to the north but will affect the amenity of homes in Tonge and Teynham.

Dave Manning (Lib Dem)

Dave is a committed environmentalist who served for many years as a borough councillor and is an Honorary Alderman.

He has decided to come out of retirement due to the present situation of 'one party dominance’.

He believes that the best way forward for Swale is a return to a balanced council with real consensus politics.

Dave believes that the public should have greater opportunities to scrutinise the way that the council spends its finances and prioritises its service delivery.

He wants to see more money put into frontline services and less spent on the centre’s efforts to tick the right boxes, which is why he backs the Liberal Democrats pledge to freeing local government from the imposition of Whitehall’s red tape targets.

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Woodstock

Lee Burgess (UKIP)

Lee Burgess, 20, has lived in Sittingbourne all his life and moved to Tunstall 11 years ago. He feels the failed 'old’ parties that have dominated the borough council for so long have poorly represented the residents of Swale.

He wants to help bring power back to the people and away from centralised government and wants to help make Swale Borough Council become truly representative of the local community.

His major concerns include: finding out what the people of Woodstock want, stopping further expansion of the Kent science park, supporting local businesses and a better high street, improving the safety and quality of our roads.

Geraldine Feltham (Lab)

Geraldine is an experienced campaigner for the Labour Party. She says she is standing to give the Labour opposition on Swale Council the opportunity to challenge more strongly the poor record of the Tory administration.

She says that the service Swale Tories have provided to local people in the last few years is characterised by higher council taxes matched by cuts in services, poor performances in housing, finance and culture and a miserable attitude to allowing free swimming for elderly people and young people.

Geraldine is a student of the history of the Labour Party and says she is proud of such Labour initiatives as the NHS and the support for elderly people.

Peter Springham (Lib Dem)

Peter has worked and lived in Sittingbourne for many years and brought up his family there.

He is now a proud grandfather who is concerned to ensure that Swale is a borough that is doing its best not just for this generation but also for the next.

If elected he’ll push the Sittingbourne Town Centre Regeneration to become a reality as soon as possible.

As a pensioner he recognizes many of the problems faced by his generation. He says his pension is failing to keep up with rising prices.

He said: “The pound in my pocket buys less and less and now the Conservatives want everyone to pay £8,000 when they reach 65 to guarantee care should we need it. Having worked all my life and paid my dues I ask myself what happened to the pledge of so many years ago of support from the cradle to the grave?”

Alan Willicombe (Con)*

Alan Willicombe spent 25 years in the British Army as a Royal Engineer serving in Malaya, Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, Australia, British Honduras, Gibraltar and Germany.

In his final years he was at the War Office before retiring to work in the paper industry locally.

Now fully retired Alan and his wife Jean both serve as councillors striving hard to improve the quality of live for residents of Woodstock and Tunstall and they have both built up a reputation for community action.

Alan was honoured to be Mayor of Swale a few years ago.

Despite having achieved many successes on issues within the ward, such as resident parking in Homewood Avenue, a new roundabout at the junction of Woodstock and Bell Roads and traffic calming in Tunstall Road, Alan still appreciates there are many yet to be resolved. These include a cycle lane and speed restrictions in Homewood Avenue.