Richard Baum

We’re into the last 24 hours of “I’m a Councillor… Get Me Out Of Here,” the competition organised as part of National Democracy Week to elect a Youth Champion for Bury. I have been up against five other Councillors in the past fortnight, answering questions from young people from across the Borough. And now there are just two of us left after four evictions.

My colleague (and our Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate) Cllr Vic D’Albert was unceremoniously booted off today, leaving just Cllr Cath Berry and me left. You can visit the site at www.bigvote.org.ukand read my manifesto. I don’t think you can ask any questions or vote without being part of a participating school, and in these days of faked phone-ins and competition scandals, I don’t want anyone trying! But spread the word about the site and take a look anyway - lots of Councillors from all over the place answering questions about everything.

I think it should be made a permanent thing! At the moment anyone can ask me a question through the Council’s website, but the answers aren’t published anywhere, and I could just ignore them if I wanted (I don’t, of course). If I had my way we’d have to answer them all and our answers would be there for everyone to see, just like this competition is!

I’ll let you know if I win tomorrow. And best of luck to Cllr Berry too! 

Rick