Kevin Dowling: Marple North Independent Candidate

[Kevin Dowling]

Geoff, you're right posters don't win elections. You're also wrong candidates with good ideas, even bad ideas, even no ideas don't win elections either.

People who win elections are the electorate and politicians both incumbent and aspirant would do well to have this at the forefront of their minds when the election process is happening. I have neither seen nor heard/heard of/ any negative campaigning, certainly not from the candidates nor their camps. If others have passed comment then they are members of the electorate and they are entitled to their views.

I will mention my posters because others have and thank you to anybody who has been complimentary about them. The fundamental difference between my posters and posters for the other candidates including your own, is that I paid for mine out of my own pocket whereas the other candidates paid for theirs out of party funds. My motivation with my posters was to provide the best possible poster display within my power for the electorate. Which meant making them as visible as possible to everybody.



     

[Kevin Dowling]

KD

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[wheels]

There are three Cheadle Wards in SMBC

Well that would be confusing three wards all called the same.

There are three ward with the word Cheadle in them. All have very substantial majorities for the party which holds them and None are likely to change hands as you suggest.

And there is no Cheadle ward.

[simonesaffron]

red66bear, your comments about Ms Smart are completely irrelevant to what is happening in Marple North today. A day is a long time in politics, as the man said, I think it was Harold Wilson, let alone a year.

The way I see it Kevin Dowling is giving the electorate of  North Marple the opportunity to vote for an independent candidate. A candidate that is not restricted by the usual party constraints and is focussed on local issues and will use his time and office on these. Not on philosophical debates about Brexit.  He isn't telling you to vote for him. He even states that in his manifesto. As I see it, this is not about high- falutin stuff, this is about basics like the future of Marple Memorial Park.   

 Perhaps you should be asking yourself why you predict a 30% 40% turnout ? Do you believe the people of Marple North do not care about such things as the park. Will they care about it when the council say they have no money at all to attend to it and it has become a safety hazard so they are locking the gates and putting a sign up saying 'trespassers will be prosecuted.'

FOMMP,  what is the latest on council support for the park, are you delighted with the council's input?

   

[CllrGeoffAbell]

So this is the same Kevin Dowling who only a few months ago tried and failed convincingly to get the Lib Dem nomination. This is a real independent Simone.

This is true.

On the other hand, I know him well.  Local hotelier and novelist.  Honest.  And man of many posters!   

[red666bear]

Mr Dowling,
12 months ago you were telling us all to get behind Lisa Smart, unfortunately people didnt appreciate a candidate parachuted in from London.

Good luck getting your deposit back. I`d be amazed if we get more than a 30-40% turnout.

[simonesaffron]

Yes Hoffnung,

I agree it's a good message, honest and relevant. Refreshingly different from the usual stuff we get from the mainstream parties.   

[Hoffnung]

Marple Independent
For: Marple, Marple Bridge, Mellor, Mill Brow and Compstall

Hello, Marple North Electorate.

My name is Kevin Dowling.

I am the proprietor of The Springfield Hotel, one of the oldest (established 1971) businesses in Marple. I live, work and spend most of my time in Marple, a community I recognize, am committed to and care about. From May 2011, until May 2015, I was a Liberal Democrat Councillor for Marple South. I have resigned from the Liberal Democrat Party and at the forthcoming local elections, scheduled to take place on Thursday, May 5th 2016, I will be standing as an Independent Candidate for Marple North, which is the Electoral Ward where we all live, the one wherein we have the vote.

As an Independent Candidate, I have no affiliation to any political party.

As a former Councillor I have seen  how party politics consistently stifles local government, how it devours the time and energy of our locally elected representatives, how they can become enslaved by National Party dogma, occupied with issues that they can have no influence over whatsoever, issues that they were not elected to give their time to. Often this serves to distract them and sometimes even detach them completely from local matters, matters that they were elected to give their time to. I have concluded that as a councillor, there is no way out of this situation as long as you are a member of a political party. This observation though, is a criticism of the party system in local government and not of any person.

Local Councillors should be concerned with and dedicated to local issues.

Although wider issues can impact locally, and Local Councillors should be in touch with these, Marple Councillors should primarily be dedicated to Marple matters.  We only have to take a quick glance at some of the ‘motions’ that are proposed for council. These motions take up hours of preparation, sometimes days. This preparation is then followed by hours of debating time, at Full Council Meetings. These motions are often irrelevant to the whole of Stockport let alone our local community in Marple. My policy is a simple, all-encompassing one. I will dedicate my time and office to being a Marple North Councillor and focus on issues that matter to the local community.

Issues such as; Vehicular traffic congestion, parking, school places, public realm, transport, affordable housing and more.             
                                                                                                   
It is not my intention to bombard you every few days between now and the election with repetitive leaflets, giving the same old message, telling you who can win this election, who can't and why. Therefore, this letter will be the only written communication you will receive from me during this campaign.

It would, I believe, be a fantastic result for democracy, Marple in general and Marple North in particular, if an Independent candidate actually won this time, instead of representatives of the same old parties.

Myself and the current, small band of supporters I have, believe that there is support for Politically Independent Representation in Marple.  Support for councillors whose prime objective is to use their time and office in the preservation and development of Marple North. Preservation and development which is in the best interests and wishes of the Local Community.

Marple has not in a long time (if ever) had the opportunity to consider an Independent candidate, so I present this opportunity before you. I would not presume, as others have done and are still doing, to tell you who you should vote for. I will be completely advised on the future of my independent candidacy by your actions at the 2016 ballot box.

Every single vote for Marple Independent Kevin Dowling on Thursday, May 5th 2016, counts towards the future of Marple - it's now up to us.

THANK YOU

Kevin Dowling         tel: 07876 568 902          email: kevin1dowling@gmail.com

Absolutely right on the money, with every word of this.

[Hoffnung]

There isnt a Cheadle ward in Stockport so would be difficult to lose.

What I think is clear is that we all know who will be in control of SMBC come 6th May

There are three Cheadle Wards in SMBC

[admin]

What I think is clear is that we all know who will be in control of SMBC come 6th May

Looks like the libdems are having some trouble at the moment, maybe a good time to be an independent?

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/local-news/second-stockport-councillor-resigns-row-11181170

[simonesaffron]

Hoffnung,

You'll get used to Wheels, he's probably the best recruiting sergeant for his enemies that I know on this site. Most people he's against, most others are for, if only for no other reason than he's against them.

Although I don't know Kevin Dowling personally I do know somebody who is close to him and I know of him and what I've heard is that during his tenure as a Councillor he was a well respected, well thought of local community councillor. He left the council and the lib dems  in an honourable manner and he is perfectly entitled to stand as an Independent Candidate.

Like you I will probably vote for him whereas I wouldn't entertain for a second this year the notion of voting lib dem.

The lib dem candidate in Marple South spent  thirty years as a labour councillor but you won't hear Wheels making reference to that.

[wheels]

Wheels,

A few points.

1/ Do you you ever say anything about anything or anyone that isn't critical and unpleasant ?

2/ With enemies like you Kevin will be assured of the votes of many at the ballot box.

3/ Kevin Dowling  is perfectly entitled to stand as an independent councillor. In fact not only is he entitled to stand, it is his democratic right.

4/ It is probably the intercedence of the 'same' Kevin Dowling that is going to rid Marple North of your  Lib Dumbs. 

5/ Both myself and members of my family will almost certainly be voting for him whereas we wouldn't even consider voting Lib Dumb.

6/ What do you think the chances are of the Lib Dumbs losing; Marple North/South, Hazel Grove, Stepping Hill, Offerton, Cheadle at this election? I would say they were pretty good?

There isnt a Cheadle ward in Stockport so would be difficult to lose.

What I think is clear is that we all know who will be in control of SMBC come 6th May

[wheels]

Wheels,

A few points.

1/ Do you you ever say anything about anything or anyone that isn't critical

What's unpleasant about saying someone that is claiming to be independent was only a few weeks ago seek the nomination of on of the political parties. In what way is that unpleasant.

[jimblob]

Wheels,

6/ What do you think the chances are of the Lib Dumbs losing; Marple North/South, Hazel Grove, Stepping Hill, Offerton, Cheadle at this election? I would say they were pretty good?

we can live in hope I suppose.

[Hoffnung]

Wheels,

A few points.

1/ Do you you ever say anything about anything or anyone that isn't critical and unpleasant ?

2/ With enemies like you Kevin will be assured of the votes of many at the ballot box.

3/ Kevin Dowling  is perfectly entitled to stand as an independent councillor. In fact not only is he entitled to stand, it is his democratic right.

4/ It is probably the intercedence of the 'same' Kevin Dowling that is going to rid Marple North of your  Lib Dumbs. 

5/ Both myself and members of my family will almost certainly be voting for him whereas we wouldn't even consider voting Lib Dumb.

6/ What do you think the chances are of the Lib Dumbs losing; Marple North/South, Hazel Grove, Stepping Hill, Offerton, Cheadle at this election? I would say they were pretty good?