Two more candidates have entered the race to become the next metro mayor of the West of England. In May voters across the wider Bristol region will decide who should be the politician to lead the West of England Combined Authority.
Green Councillor Heather Mack, deputy leader of Bristol City Council, is hoping to be chosen by the Greens as their candidate for the election. Party members are voting this week between her and Mary Page, a prominent campaigner who led the fight to scrap the mayor of Bristol.
Samuel Williams, a local businessman, is standing as the Conservative candidate. He previously ran in the last West of England elections in 2021, as well as the general election earlier this year in the Bristol Central constituency.
Cllr Mack said: “With the skills and track record for the job, I would deliver collaborative leadership, investment in accessible public transport, and focus on equality and sustainability for every community. My current position and my successful campaigning experience make me uniquely well placed to be the Green Party candidate.
“As deputy leader of Bristol City Council, I hold one of the most significant Green roles within the region, I have sat on WECA committees and I also have extensive media experience and a track record of winning elections. The regional authority has a fantastic opportunity to use the large amounts of money available for environment, transport, economy and skills projects, to increase equality and sustainability across the region.
“For example, our money spent on economic development could have a much greater focus on areas of deprivation and driving equity, over Labour ’s current priority of growth for growth’s sake. We must be brave enough to seek and use the powers and funding to deliver the mass transit our region needs, and not just political headlines for the ruling party.
“We must fix the broken culture of the committee, which has failed to work together and make decisions under the current mayor, resulting in government intervention. With a Green in charge, we would ensure respectful and collaborative working to get the best for the whole region.”
Green Party members are voting this week between Cllr Mack and Ms Page, and voting closes on Sunday. The results should be known on Monday, November 11. Meanwhile, businessman Mr Williams is running for the second time for the Conservatives.
He said: “On May 6 you have a clear choice between a business-minded, forward-thinking, opportunity-driven Conservative candidate, or yet another lacking leader or careerist party politician. As a local businessman and charity leader, I’m passionate about energising our region to increase opportunities and quality of life for all.
“I will invest over £100 million over the next four years to secure the recovery of our skills and business. Furthermore, I will also safeguard our economy, facilitate growth, and deliver improved skills training for high value jobs by launching a new ‘Collaborative Future Work and Skills Programme’.
“On top of this, I will deliver at least six new train stations and crucial rail improvements; alongside launching a pioneering new hi-tech ‘on-demand’ urban and rural transport services, as part of an overhauled regional mass transit system, designed to set the wheels in motion and get the West of England moving again.
“I will also meet our region’s development needs by building 140,000 affordable homes and constructing communities for the future, focusing on the significant brown-field redevelopment opportunities in our towns and cities, while protecting our beautiful rural areas and precious greenbelt. Now is not the time to risk our recovery. Now is the time to secure our future.”
Labour has shortlisted three candidates, all former cabinet members in Bristol City Council: Nicola Beech, Tom Renhard and Helen Godwin. So far it’s unclear who is standing for the Liberal Democrats, but the candidate is likely to be from Bath and North East Somerset.