Simeon Brody
I wasn't expecting to win. Infact I would have been very suprised to become a City of York Councillor, as with our party's limited resources we targetted just three wards with leaflets and canvassing, and my ward wasn't one of them. But even so, losing an election isn't a good feeling.
I could have felt happy that my running-mate and I took 15% of the vote, up on last time. I am happy that I beat one of the Lib Dems and that the BNP candidate came bottom. I am of course delighted that the voters of Fishergate Ward returned two Green Councillors, and that nationally we did better than ever.
However I still have a feeling of disappointment that the upsurge of interest in green issues hasn't translated into a landslide of more Green Party Councillors, at least here in York. I will try again in 2011 and hopefully do better, as I'd relish the chance to serve my city by helping to run it and participate in the decisionmaking process as a Councillor.
In the meantime I will continue my voluntary work with local groups which promote sustainable living, with my food growing and recycling activities, buying local and choosing fair-trade and charity-shop goods. One thing I will definitely be doing is to write to my new local Councillors and ask them what their priorities are regarding promoting social justice, reducing our carbon footprint and increasing our quality of life whilst protecting the planet for future generations. My 'green tip of the week' is that as all local authorities have a web-presence, you can easily find out who your representative is, and let them know what you'd like them to do whilst they're in office. Initiating a dialogue may very well result in some positive changes, and this thought proves that my optomism as a Green is still shining through.
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