Five candidates are set to contest a by-election for the seat of former council leader Jean Stretton after her sudden death.
Labour representative Ms Stretton died in September while serving as a councillor for Hollinwood ward, the area she had represented for 19 years in two stretches of service.
She had also held the role as leader of the town hall for two years from 2016 to 2018, becoming the first woman to take on the leadership in the borough’s history.
The 64-year-old also held several cabinet positions in areas including housing, health and wellbeing, town centres, culture and tourism. At the time of her death she was in charge of the portfolio for neighbourhoods.
Current leader Coun Amanda Chadderton described her as a ‘pioneer’ who championed the borough.
A by-election for Ms Stretton’s former seat is due to take place on Thursday, November 17.
Five candidates will be on the ballot, representing four political parties and one independent candidate. However no hyper-local parties are due to take part.
Dominic Cadman is to stand for the Liberal Democrats, Kamran Ghafoor for the Conservatives, John Lawrence for the National Housing Party Putting UK First, Hannah Roberts for the Labour Party and Barbara Whitehead as an independent.
The polls will be open for residents of the Hollinwood ward from 7am until 10pm.
There are eight polling stations open, located at Canon George Community Hall in St Margaret`s Church on Chapel Road, the parish room at Holy Family RC Church on Roman Road in Limeside, Avenues and Hollins Residents and Tenants Association on First Avenue in Limeside, St Chads Centre on Lime Green Parade in Limehurst Village, the mobile unit at Spring Brook Lower School on Heron Street, the side entrance to Werneth Golf Club on Green Lane, the mobile unit HO7 on Vaal Street in Hollins, and the common room at Clough Gate House on Hollins Road.
A winner will be announced after votes are verified and counted following the closing of the ballot at 10pm.
However whomever is elected will have to re-contest their seat in May when all the council’s 60 seats will go to the polls under an ‘all-out’ election.
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