Conservatives celebrate winning two seats in Fairfield following councillors' resignations
Two new Conservative councillors have said they are "honoured and privileged" after they were decisively elected to Fairfield ward in Stockton.
Councillors Jack Miller and Mohammed Mazi won the by-election for the two Stockton Council seats by large majorities last night (Thursday, September 19). They were among 11 candidates vying for the seats following the resignations of two Conservative councillors, Susan Scott and Alex Griffiths, in August.
With 1,181 votes for Cllr Mazi, 1,291 for Cllr Miller, the winners each polled more than double the votes of their nearest rivals, Labour's Oli Hall and Stephen Jennings, with a 32% turnout from an electorate of 7,084. This means, along with serving Cllr Stephen Richardson, the Conservatives hold Fairfield.
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Cllr Mazi said: "I'm honoured and privileged to have been elected to represent the residents of the Fairfield ward on Stockton Borough Council. The campaign team supporting myself and Jack have been fantastic, and I would like to thank them for the long hours and days they've put in.
"However, and more importantly, I would like to thank the residents of Fairfield who have entrusted Jack and I with their vote. We will be working tirelessly on their behalf to ensure their voices are heard and acted upon by the council."
Cllr Miller said: "It's been a privilege to speak to hundreds of our Fairfield residents over many weeks. The concerns they have raised now belong to us, and we must make sure they are addressed.
"Mazi and I have found it humbling to be instantly recognised and approached in the street by residents, no rosettes or fancy clipboards, just two people who are seen to be listening and wanting to best represent them. I am honoured to have been elected."
'Fantastic and hard-working councillors'
Cllr Tony Riordan, leader of the Stockton Conservative group, said: "The residents of Fairfield have elected two fantastic and hard-working councillors. I know the commitment they will bring to their new role will be unwavering.
"Last night's results show that there is little or no appetite for the present Labour group continuing to lead Stockton Borough Council. This Labour group really do need to listen to their own party strap line, time for change."
Previous councillors Scott and Griffiths resigned for different and unrelated reasons. Cllr Griffiths said he had decided to resign reluctantly "due to a change in my personal circumstances and to be closer to family".
The resignation of Cllr Scott came after comments in a Facebook group where she said it was her view that the "aspiration of Muslims is to make the whole world Muslim and they will do whatever it takes to achieve that goal". Cllr Riordan accepted her resignation saying: "It is vitally important that anyone who posts comments on social media, particularly those who are elected to hold public office must, always, uphold the highest of standards.
"The Conservative group will not condone any behaviour that falls below these standards and seeks to cause division within our communities."
The full by-election results were:
William Bell-Berry - 11
Samuel Ernest Bradford (Green Party) - 62
Charlton James Gibben (Independent) - 110
Oliver Jacob Hall (Labour Party) - 496
Stephen James Jennings (Labour Party) - 528
Hadia Malik (Liberal Democrats) - 43
Mohammed Maroof, known as Mohammed Mazi (Local Conservatives) - 1,181 - ELECTED
Stephen David Matthews (Reform UK) - 304
Neil McCabe (Reform UK) - 344
Jack Lewis Miller (Local Conservatives) - 1,291 - ELECTED
Mohammed Waqas (Liberal Democrats) - 45