Sidmouth Town and District council elections > HUSTINGS event > "Contributing to an awareness of the upcoming elections and the importance of voting."

The hustings in Sidmouth went well last night:
Futures Forum: Sidmouth Town and District council elections > HUSTINGS event > political speed dating

To quote a commentator:

"I thought it was a good convivial event which achieved its purpose for voters who attended. It was good to see the candidates being engaged and convivial with each other, and all in all I think the event was worthwhile, contributing to an awareness of the upcoming elections and the importance of voting."

There is further lively comment happening on the East Devon Watch blog:
Tories no-show at Sidmouth hustings last night | East Devon Watch

The organisers of the event were at pains to contact all the candidates. 

• All current Councillors who are standing in contested wards were contacted.
• However some of the other candidates did not have email addresses readily available.
• The following agents, political parties and representative groups were contacted with the request that the invitation to the hustings be passed on:
• Devon UKIP: local agent
• East Devon Conservative Party: office@eastdevonconservatives.org
• East Devon Labour Party: local agent
• East Devon Liberal Democrats: info@eastdevonlibdems.org.uk
• Independent East Devon Alliance: info@eastdevonalliance.com
• Sid Valley Democracy: sidvalleydem@gmail.com

• Otherwise, letters of invitation were sent to those with no such contact address or party/group affiliation.
• The following candidates sent in their apologies:
• Stuart Hughes (District Conservative; Town Independent)
• Ian McKenzie Edwards (Town)
• Louise Thompson (Town Independent)
• Jenny Ware (District Conservative; Town Independent)
• Otherwise, several candidates did not attend or send in apologies, despite their agents, political parties and representative groups being contacted.

Here is more information about the candidates:
Futures Forum: Sidmouth Town and District council elections > HUSTINGS event > Tuesday 30th April > candidates' manifestos

Finally, it was noted that several members of the public popped into the Hall to 'have a look' but did not want to venture in - feeling either that 'there was no point in voting' or that 'all politicians are corrupt/useless/a waste of time'...

Let's hope that voters do nevertheless turn up tomorrow on voting day:
East Devon Elections – Why go to the Hustings? - Vision Group for Sidmouth
Futures Forum: Sidmouth Town and District council elections > HUSTINGS event > Tuesday 30th April > meet the candidates in one-on-one Q&A sessions
.
.
.