We’ve asked all of the candidates standing for election to Cheshire East Council to provide our readers with a short introduction to themselves.
We’ll publish these daily for all 52 council wards (in alphabetical order) in the build up to the local elections on 4th May 2023.
You can view all of the Cheshire East Council candidate submissions together by clicking here.
Listed below are all of the candidates seeking your vote in the Alsager ward.
Voters in Alsager can select three candidates to represent them on Cheshire East Council.
Alsager candidates:
- Brian Drake (Labour)
- Rod Fletcher (Liberal Democrats)
- Reg Kain (Liberal Democrats)
- Richard McCarthy (Green Party)
- Hilary Robinson (Green Party)
- Michael Unett (Labour)
- Wendy Whittaker-Large (Conservatives)
- Sam Worthington (Conservatives)
Brian Drake (Labour)
I moved to Alsager in the 1990 with my wife and children as my wife joined Cedars Medical Centre as a partner, then becoming senior partner from where she retired four years ago.
I have enjoyed a varied career in supply chain management, where I held senior management positions in various companies.
12 years ago, I formed and was director of a supply chain consultancy advising businesses on global, European and UK supply chain management projects.
I retired three years ago and stood in the 2021 by-election for Alsager Town Council.
I narrowly lost, however I have continued to raise many local and national issues with the local MP.
I strongly believe the importance of councillors ensuring that residents receive value for money and that the council administers its budget prudently.
As a Labour councillor on Cheshire East Council, I wish to provide a strong voice on behalf of Alsager.
Rod Fletcher (Liberal Democrats)
I am well known for my years of effective service as a town and borough councillor.
I have lived in Alsager since 1971 and was a company control manager for a train operating company.
I represented Alsager on the old Congleton Borough Council and Cheshire County Council.
I served on the fire authority for six years and lobbied for a much-needed fire station in Alsager and the successful installation of the traffic lights at the junction of Talke Road/Linley Lane.
I will continue to use my vast experience for the benefit of the people of Alsager.
Reg Kain (Liberal Democrats)
I served for six years in the RAF as an engineer on one of the UK’s last Lightning Squadrons.
I worked in the construction industry for many years before taking a degree and becoming a secondary school teacher in 1999.
I have worked at many schools around Cheshire East and Stoke-on-Trent and served as a union representative and on the local education authority committee.
I have lived in Alsager since 2006 and am a ju-jitsu instructor with the rank of ‘shodan’.
I aim to bring my youth work and union negotiation experience to bear on Cheshire East.
Richard McCarthy (Green Party)
I have lived in Cheshire East for 15 years, mostly in Alsager, with a few years in Congleton.
I want Cheshire East to properly address our two huge emergencies – climate and biodiversity.
I would push to:
(1) save us all heartache, misery, and hard cash by copying Cheshire West and Chester Council and embedding 20’s Plenty.
(2) prevent development of Danes Moss and all other peatlands, as rare environments which are huge carbon stores which can continue removing CO2 from the air for free. We should preserve our peatlands in the way that we’d like Brazilians to preserve Amazonian rainforest.
(3) treat HS2 as the white elephant cash cow that it actually is. As a Cheshire East councillor, I’d fight to prevent it from scarring our countryside and work to reduce people’s need for travel and to develop alternatives to car ownership.
Hilary Robinson (Green Party)
I have been a Green Party member for many years, and represented the party on Alsager Town Council for 8 years, including a year as chair.
I have taken a keen interest in environmental issues all my life, and believe the situation is now critical.
I have lived in Alsager for 45 years. My children attended local schools. I’ve worked as a software developer for International Computers Limited, and since retirement have been involved in various local groups, often involving gardening.
I am also a waste reduction volunteer for Cheshire East.
Michael Unett (Labour)
I am an Alsager resident and local campaigner who has served as a Labour councillor on Alsager Town Council for the past four years, also serving as the council’s chair for the 2021-22 civic year – the youngest person ever to have served in that role.
I have worked with Labour colleagues and others on several issues across Alsager and I have a strong record of delivery – campaigning to get traffic lights installed to make the Linley Junction safer and the return of EMR services to Alsager Station to name just a few examples.
I am passionate about Alsager and I want to use my experience so far to champion our town, listen to residents and deliver.
I believe I can provide a strong voice for Alsager and I would be honoured to be given the opportunity to serve and represent my home town on Cheshire East Council.
Wendy Whittaker-Large (Conservatives)
I have lived in Alsager for almost 30 years and have raised my family of four boys here.
Originally I came to Alsager to study at the college and then ended up staying as it was such a lovely area.
During the time I’ve lived here I have had many interesting work and community roles.
I was one of the founder members of Alsager Youth Project, and I went on to become a non-executive director of Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Trust, focusing on the CAMHS agenda in South Cheshire.
I was a trustee and then chair of Crewe YMCA – combining my knowledge of housing and youth provision.
My professional background is as a lecturer in early years at MMU Crewe before deciding to branch out and launch a property management business which I now run with my husband.
Sam Worthington (Conservatives)
Having lived in Cheshire East my whole life and attended local schools, I know I can deliver for the people of Alsager.
I have the drive, passion and enthusiasm to create positive change which is what Alsager very much needs.
I am 20 years old and currently studying philosophy, politics and economics at university and will be on a local placement year for 2023/24.
I can provide new, fresh ideas to revitalise Alsager and be a strong voice for our community.
I have always been keen to get involved with local communities and groups because I appreciate the social benefits of local people coming together.
Being a founding member of Congleton Pride and sitting on Cheshire Constabulary’s Independent Advisory Group, I have worked on a variety of community projects in and around Alsager.
So Cheshire remains proudly non-partisan and has provided the same opportunity to all parties and independent candidates.
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