Veïns de Parcent - Newsletter Nº 53 - 6th May 2007

after 2 weeks away and then catching up with things, here I am again, to bring you up-to-date with what is happening.

Election - 27th May
Only 3 weeks to go! We now have the Electoral List and we residents account for 233 out of a total of 837, so we are 28% of the list. If you put in a Claim Form to go on the list at the beginning of April, please ring me to check you are actually included - I think everyone is there, but I did not meet all of you who claimed. Also please let me know if you will be voting by post - still time to register to do this at Correos. Those who have already done so should get their voting papers by registered post shortly- don't forget you need ID to pick them up.

The Election Campaign starts officially on Friday, 11th May and runs to Friday, 25th May. The CDP will be holding public meetings on Saturday, 12th May, Tuesday, 15th May (for residents), and Friday, 25th May - a final rally. More details about these in a few days time. Saturday, 26th May is a day of reflection, and no campaigning is allowed.

We would also like to hold some local meetings for residents of different nationalities and in different areas, where you will get a chance to meet some of the candidates and ask them questions. Could you organise a get-together for your neighbours at your house? If so, please let Jacqui, Mark or Jenny know (telephone numbers below).

The Lists of Candidates are now published and are as follows:

COALICIÓ DEMOCRÁTICA DE PARCENT (CDP)

1 Máximo Revilla Martínez

2 Jacqueline Claire Cotterill

3 Fabiola Cristina Mora Pons

4 Jaume Mora Cano

5 Joan Carles Poquet Guardiola

6 José Vicente Mora Roselló

7 Philip Mark Harrison

8 Pedro Juan Far Pérez

9 Sonia Mora Mora

Suplentes

1 Rafael Ballester Estalrich

2 Francisco José Mas Vidal

3 Estela Francés Comes

PARTIDO POPULAR (PP)

1 Maria Del Carmen López Fernández

2 Ismael Reig Poquet

3 Vicente Poquet Ginestar

4 Maria Isabel Mora Ausias

5 Nicholas Peter Jones

6 Gemma Aspas Jimenez

7 Olga Maria Perez Ballester

8 Margaret Tanner

9 Rosaura Cambronero Mora

Suplentes

1 Catherine Jane Jones

2 Victor Marti Ballester

Apart from meetings, we will be going round to talk to people. As you must be aware, this is a vitally important election for PARCENT. The question of party politics does not really enter into it, as it is quite obvious that the future of our village will be decided on 27th May, and there will be no going back after that. We are relying on common sense to prevail and EVERY VOTE WILL COUNT. Please let us know if you require help to get to the polling station - we will be happy to drive you there if necessary.

Our Manifesto is now prepared and at the printers, hopefully ready in time for the planned meetings. If you are invited to PP meetings, please go and hear for yourselves what they are offering. Read their manifesto too and ask questions about it. It is a straight 2-horse race, with only one real winner - let's hope it is PARCENT that comes first!

Both parties will also be distributing voting papers and envelopes, so that you can take them with you to the polling station. The voting paper must not be marked in any way, nor the envelope, or your vote will be invalid. Don't forget to take an ID document, such as your passport, residencia, or driving licence. You will be voting for the whole list, not for individual candidates, and the first name on each one is normally the person who may become the new mayor. The system is one of proportional representation and this time there are 9 seats on the council. The Spanish people of the village will also be voting for their Valencian deputies, but we do not have the right to vote at that level. (The votes cast locally also count towards the deputies in Alicante, but only for the main political parties - PP, PSOE, IU, BLOC - so CDP votes will not count as we are INDEPENDENT of any other political party.)

If you have any queries about the election, please do not hesitate to contact:

Jacqui Cotterill - 96 640 3868
Mark Harrison - 96 640 5087
Jenny Bussey - 96 640 5365.

T-shirts and umbrellas
Jacqui has these at her house. There are summer sleeveless tee-shirts as well as the usual ones. If you ordered an umbrella and have not received it, please phone Jacqui as soon as possible. A good number of both items were sold at the Valencia Demonstration in April.

Veïns at Alicante University
Jacqui and Joan Carles attended a couple of seminars for students at Alicante University on Friday last, at which they explained our campaign strategy and answered questions about why it has been so successful and high profile. The campaign we have waged for the last 16 months will, we hope, and with your continued support, now bear fruit.

As soon as I have firm information about dates, times and venues, I will contact you again. Please pass this on to your computer-less neighbours too.