A council vote is set to be postponed in one Sunderland ward following the tragic death of a candidate during campaigning.
"Dedicated and conscientious" local politician Reg Coulson, 76 died suddenly this week after a day speaking to voters in the Copt Hill Ward, where he had been standing for a council seat. A town councillor for East Rainton, on Hetton Town Council, Coun Coulson had stood a number of times for the Copt Hill seat on behalf of the UK Independence Party (UKIP).
Sunderland City Council's returning officer has formally confirmed that voting in the ward will be rearranged. All the other 24 polls in Sunderland on Thursday, May 5 will continue as planned.
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Coun Coulson's death was confirmed on Thursday by UKIP North East chair and fellow Hetton Town Councillor Richard Elvin.
He said: "It is with great sadness that UKIP Wearside confirms the sudden and unexpected death of its Councillor Reg Coulson. Reg had been a long-standing active member of the Wearside branch and will be greatly missed.
"Reg was first elected to Hetton Town Council in May 2015 to represent the East Rainton Parish. He was a dedicated and conscientious Councillor who took great pride in his civic duties.
"Reg was a driving instructor and will be affectionately remembered by generations in the Hetton and Houghton area as the man who helped them pass their driving test. Reg has always stood for UKIP in the Copt Hill ward for the Sunderland City Council elections and was out on campaigning in the afternoon of his death before being dramatically taken ill that same evening.
"Reg had campaigned for many years to reopen the Leamside line which will provide Metro stations at West Rainton, Fencehouses and Penshaw... Our sincere condolences go to his wife and family."
Sunderland’s Returning Officer, Patrick Melia said: "We send our condolences to the family and friends of Mr Coulson at this sad time. Legally, we must now postpone the election in Copt Hill ward. I am contacting the other candidates, and will be writing to all affected electors."
A new date for the election is being arranged and new poll cards will be sent to all affected voters once the date is set. They will tell voters how to arrange a postal or proxy vote if they cannot make it to the polling station on the new date.
Any postal votes which have already been sent in will no longer count and registered postal voters will be sent a new ballot. All those currently nominated for the seat will be included on the ballot paper, while nominations will reopen for a set period after the new election date is announced.
Family and friends will bid farewell to Reg Coulson at a funeral set to take place at 1pm on May 5 at St Cuthbert’s Church in East Rainton.
