SIX candidates have put their names forward to fight the two seats on Okehampton Town Council and the public can make their choice on Thursday, July 19.
A by-election will be held in the Charter Hall to decide who will succeed Cllrs Ray Vallance and Olive Hayward, who resigned recently.
Former Okehampton Medical Centre practice nurse Joanna Harrison and campaigner for pensioners' rights Patrick Shea are standing for the Conservatives; retired printer John Maguire is the Liberal Democrat's representative, and Robert Owers, David Weekes and Heather Whitbread are Independent candidates.
A mother of two teenage daughters, Mrs Harrison, 46, is currently a specialist asthma nurse covering Devon, Cornwall and part of Somerset. Health and education are her main priorities and with the town growing in population she wants to be involved in decision-making regarding the new primary school and hospital.
Patrick Shea, 72, is a member of Okehampton Lions and chairman of the Probus Club. He set up 'Action Forum, Okehampton' which is a voice for older people and the Okehampton Handypersons' Scheme which carries out repairs and fits security devices in pensioners' homes.
After retiring from his job at Inkprint two months ago John Maguire is ready for a new challenge, and education and employment are the big issues for him. A winner of a 'Lifetime Learners' Award' from the Devon and Cornwall TEC in 1995, Mr Maguire achieved an NVQ level four in Accountancy at Exeter Business School and is a member of the Association of Account Technicians.
A former postman, venture scout leader and special constable in Okehampton, Robert Owers, 46, recently retired on medical grounds. He said he had 'sat on his backside', moaning about what was going on in the town for too long and now it was time to do something about it.
With four children aged from 4 to 16, gas technician David Weekes, 42, is keen to see more activities for young people in the town with Simmons Park used to its full advantage.
He is a trustee of South Zeal Playing Fields Committee and Chairman of South Zeal Snooker Club and has run several businesses in Okehampton including a fruit and veg shop, video store and taxi firm.
When friends suggested she should run for town council, Heather Whitbread decided to put her name in the hat. The florist runs a shop in Red Lion Yard and is a sponsor of several sports clubs in the town and the local primary school.
Mrs Whitbread wants to get tough on law and order and would like to see more help for new businesses starting up in town. Putting Okehampton on the tourist map is one of her priorities and she believes 'more interesting' shops in the town is the key to that.