WWRA sponsored Independent candidate Wisdom Da Costa wins
WWRA sponsored Independent candidate Wisdom Da Costa wins Clewer North by-election in sensational manner, after unusual events, on Thursday 4th May 2017. Find out more and, what next?
Wisdom Da Costa with Carole Da Costa and Richard Endacott
WWRA sponsored Independent candidate Wisdom Da Costa sensationally beat off all the Political Parties, after 2 recounts and a suspicious error, to be elected as Councillor for Clewer North on Thursday 4th May 2017.
“This is a tale of how every vote counts”: Watch out for more interesting news and comments below.
An unequal playing field
All three national Political Parties went into overdrive, drafting in activists and councillors from around Berkshire, Bucks, Surrey and as far away as Manchester to flood the area knock on doors, from 6am to 10pm in an effort to sway the result away from local Independents. Even Windsor MP Adam Afriyie, known to some as invisible Adam, was sighted canvassing for the Conservative juggernaut,
Their big budget campaigns (in terms of manpower) also included the use of sophisticated software and mobile devices which helps national parties target voters, to run call centres, telephone banks and, record your details and your likely or actual voting pattern – perhaps you should write to each of the three parties to ask them what data they hold on you.
Wisdom Da Costa and his team of local residents prepared and ran a robust campaign founded on local legs, a deep insight of local issues and, with the fire in the hearts of many helpers fuelled by the dastardly deeds inflicted upon them by members of a certain national political party at the last election in 2015.
Out for the count: 2 recounts and a suspicious error
Count 1: After the first full count, Conservative Candidate Lars Swann lead the race by a single vote, which led Wisdom’s Agent, wife Carole Da Costa to trigger the first re-count, despite requests from the Tories not to. The initial results were;
Lars Swann, Conservative, 803
Wisdom Da Costa, Independent, 802
Amy Tisi, Liberal Democrats, 385
Michael Boyle, Labour, 273
Count 2 (Recount 1): After a recount of the votes, Lars Swann gained an extra vote but, Wisdom Da Costa gained 3 extra votes which resulted in a narrow win for the Independent;
Wisdom Da Costa, Independent, 805
Lars Swann, Conservative, 804
Amy Tisi, Liberal Democrats, 385
Michael Boyle, Labour, 273
Count 3 (Recount 2): Somewhere along the line, concerned by the inappropriate conduct of certain individuals, candidates looked for a re-check of the votes. Shockingly, a batch of 20 votes were discovered incorrectly added to the Conservative pile, rather than the LibDem pile.
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With these newfound voted correctly included, the final result was;
Wisdom Da Costa, Independent, 805
Lars Swann, Conservative, 784
Amy Tisi, Liberal Democrats, 405
Michael Boyle, Labour, 273
Spoiled ballots, 3
2,269 votes were cast which was a fantastic 39% turnout by Clewer North voters
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These body blows proved fatal to the Conservative fight, knocking them down and out of the contest.
RBWM Chief Executive, and Returning Officer, Alison Alexander, announced the win for Wisdom Da Costa who, on behalf of all the Candidates, promptly thanked Alison and her team of workers for long and arduous day and night.
a great victory and down to people power; local people
Quotes from a famous night
I want to thank everyone of the 2,269 people who voted
Our new Councillor, Wisdom Da Costa said, “It was a great victory and down to people power; local people who managed to beat off the hordes that descended upon us from Bracknell, Maidenhead, Slough, Datchet, Ascot, Langley, Old Windsor, and even Manchester not just in numbers but using some very sophisticated technology to target residents.
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There was a great turnout (39%) so, I want to thank everyone of the 2,269 people who voted in yesterday’s by-election. I appreciate you. Remember two things now;
Democracy doesn’t end at the ballot box but, begins with your vote and continues with your involvement to help shape our future. Get involved
As a Councillor for the area, I am here to serve YOU; whether you voted or not; whether you voted Independent or not; We are one community, now and always.”
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a David defeating Goliath victory
Commenting on the narrow but decisive victory, Agent, Carole Da Costa said “This is a tale of how every vote counts, and I would like to thank each and everyone of you who used your democratic right to vote.”
“This win was a team effort and I would also like to thank all of the WWRA helpers, friends and families that have helped in this campaign. Our relatively small group of helpers worked so hard in all kinds of weather. I can not express enough how great you have been in the way you have rallied at short notice and worked relentlessly and without complaint. I am so very grateful to you all well done. Unlike the National political parties we are not able to bring in help from around the country, the conservatives threw everything they had into their campaign including the local MP.”
“This really was a David defeating Goliath victory.”
Local Democracy’s at its finest
Long may democracy survive
WWRA Chairman, Kevin Chapman: “This is a victory for those who love their town more than following party political agendas.”
In a quote echoing David Lee’s “Local democracy at its finest” Tweet, former the London Borough of Houslow DSO Head went on to say, “Long may democracy survive”
fed up with the lack of attentiveness to local concerns by our council
Richard Endacott, son of former Councillor, Cynthia Endacott, and Head of Sixth Form at Langley Academy said, “The good people of Clewer North have spoken, they are fed up with the lack of attentiveness to local concerns by our council, the state of their roads and pavements and poor planning decisions.”
“They have given their trust to Wisdom Da Costa and the West Windsor Residents Association, giving them that voice in the council chamber, which will help protect the way of life for ourselves and our children in our wonderful local area.”
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What the papers said (social media buzzing)
Social media was buzzing with news of Wisdom’s sensational win for Clewer North residents.
the start of a process to deepen and improve democracy locally
What happened next?
Thursday night’s win is just the start of a process to deepen and improve democracy locally, for the better of all.
Wisdom points out, “There will be some interesting announcements from me over the coming months, all aimed to improving the representation of local people. So watch out for further updates on the WWRA Facebook Page and website at www.wwra.org.uk and, come and join us and together let’s make Windsor better for all”
Carole’s encouraging words for local residents, “There is some hard work a head of us; we need to rally in the same way as we take on the BLP and the 650 houses on our green belt. The garden centres meet a great social need in the area and we can not lose them.”
“This proposal will not benefit our children who have grown up in Windsor as it will be financially out of reach for them. Any housing in Windsor should have a priority to house people from windsor and truly affordable prices.”
“If you are not already a member of WWRA join us and become part of this winning team.“
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