Three by-elections are to be held on the West Sussex coast in the coming weeks.
Two by-elections have been called in Bognor on April 24 to fill the seats of Jim Brooks who passed away earlier this year.
And another will be held in Midhurst on May 1, to replace Cllr Dr Kate O’Kelly, who stepped down from West Sussex County Council last month in protest at the cancellation of next year’s elections.
The death of Cllr Brooks was announced on January 27. He represented Marine ward as an Independent on both Arun District Council and Bognor Regis Town Council, serving as Mayor of Bognor Regis from 2011/12 and as Chair of Arun from 2021/22.
By-elections for both Marine ward seats have now been called to be held together for Thursday, April 24, with polls to open from 7am to 10pm.
Six candidates are running for the ADC seat, they are:
John Erskine, Green Party
Guiliano Pinnelli, Reform UK
Alison Terry, Labour Party
Diana Thas, Conservatives
Paul Wells, Liberal Democrats
Phil Woodall, Independent
Three candidates are running for the Bognor Regis TC seat, they are:
Giuliano Pinnelli, Reform UK
Diana Thas, Conservatives
Michelle White, Labour Party
Both councils see all their seats up for re-election every four years, with the last election cycle taking place in May 2023, meaning the two seats could be up for election again in 2027 – if the council is not abolished as a result of Sussex devolution plans the same year.
In Midhurst, candidates from six political parties have been nominated to stand for election as West Sussex County Councillor for Midhurst division.
The candidates are:
Tom Crofts (Local Conservatives)
Andrew Emerson (Patria)
Yvonne Gravely (Liberal Democrats)
Adam Kirby (Reform UK)
Adrian Morris (The Green Party)
Juliette Reynolds (Labour Party)
Voting will take place on Thursday 1 May and the results are expected on Friday 2 May 2025.
