Yahoo News Candidates announced for Gateshead by-election in September following sudden death of councillor
Five candidates will contest a Gateshead Council by-election next month following the death of a long-serving councillor.
Bob Goldsworthy passed away in June this year after a short illness at the age of 67. The councillor, described by colleagues as "passionate" and "dedicated" had served the Bridges ward since 2007 when he was first elected to Gateshead Council.
Tributes poured in from both sides of the council chamber, with the Leader of Gateshead Council Coun Martin Gannon describing his late colleague as a "hard-working" and "much loved" councillor. The authority's Lib Dem opposition leader, Coun Ron Beadle also commented that Coun Goldsworthy "will be a big miss".
The former chair of the council's planning committee's passing created a vacancy and a by-election was announced by the local authority. The official list of candidates for the Bridges by-election are:
Jonathan Shlomo Aibi - Liberal Democrat
David James Ayre - Reform Party
Rachel Cabral - Green Party
Paul Sterling - Conservative Party
Robert Lee Waugh - Labour Party
Polling day will take place on September 12, with polling stations open from 7am until 10pm. The count will take place on the same day, following the closure of polls, at Gateshead Civic Centre.
Following recent changes to legislation, photographic ID will be required to cast ballots. Passports, driving licences, and older person's bus passes are accepted forms of ID with a full list of accepted documents available on The Electoral Commission website.
The deadline to register to vote in the by-election is August 27, with applications for postal votes and proxy votes falling on 5pm August 28 and 5pm September 4 respectively.
Labour councillors John Eagle and cabinet member for culture, sport and tourism Angela Douglas currently represent Bridges ward, which encompasses the town centre and the town's Civic Centre.
