Seamus Bennett and Jan Candy ~ the best choice for Felixstowe Coastal

On Thursday 4 May you can cast two votes to elect two hard-working Lib Dem county councillors for Felixstowe Coastal.

Seamus Bennett was born and raised in Felixstowe and after a career in international development moved back in 2008 with his family. Locally, he has worked in the charity sector, jobcentre and for several years in teaching and learning support at Felixstowe Academy. He now teaches at Felixstowe Leisure Centre and runs his own swim coaching business. Seamus is active in the community: he's been a school governor and charity trustee. In 2012 he set up a popular sea- swimming group, now a lively year- round feature of our beachfront. Seamus, whose father was a Felixstowe GP for 35 years, has stood for local office three times. He says: "I love Felixstowe and believe I have the energy and ideas to make it an even better place for all its residents."

Jan Candy has creatively lived in Suffolk for over 40 years. Art, human rights, people and places are of importance to her. Working towards a productive, compassionate and creative place to live under the umbrella of good governance drives her to aspire to be your Liberal Democrat county councillor. Jan has been President of a human rights organisation, a school governor and run her own creative business. Having travelled the world, she believes that Felixstowe is the best place to live, work and be happy!

Seamus and Jan's priorities for Felixstowe

Liberal Democrats have always prioritised social care. We will continue to press for proper funding for the care of Felixstowe residents and invest in the welfare and mental health of our young people.

We'll do more for our young people! We applaud Felixstowe Academy for making much- needed improvements in recent years and look forward to supporting further progress. When Liberal Democrats jointly controlled the county council (1993-2005) Suffolk schools were the envy of the country. Seamus, as a former teacher and Jan, with her experience as a school governor, understand the challenges of good teaching and school governance. Voting for us will ensure maximum focus on our schools and pupil welfare.

Give mental health the resources it deserves

Suffolk County Council spends just 0.16 per cent of its £28 million public health budget on mental health - despite the government's stated aim of giving mental health parity with physical health.

Seamus Bennett, whose father was a Felixstowe GP for over 30 years, commented, "the Tory-run County Council is clearly failing to do enough to support mental health and the Suffolk Lives Matter strategy is seriously underfunded.

"It suggests that Conservative council leaders do not fully recognise or properly prioritise mental health. I know from my own life experience that mental health is just as 'real' an issue in people's lives as physical health. The professionals and volunteers providing mental health services do amazing work under very difficult circumstances.

"As Liberal Democrats we fully understand this and will do all we can to give mental health in Suffolk the resources and recognition it deserves."

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Reproduced from Felixstowe Focus, April 2017