The Liberal Democrats have selected their candidate for Bristol’s Mayoral election next year - and said that if she wins she will start the process of scrapping her own job.
Mary Page said she was standing for mayor because she believed she could ‘do things differently’ - and that meant George Ferguson is questioning whether Bristol should scrap the role of Mayoraltogether.
“We have seen the current Mayor preside over the local non-delivery of things like the Bristol Arena, a clean air zone, and his own promise to cut the cost of senior management in the Council,” she said.
"I'm standing for Mayor because I believe we can do things differently.
George Ferguson is questioning whether Bristol should scrap the role of Mayor
The Liberal Democrats offer hope, creativity and innovation to Bristol.
“Our campaign to rid us of the Mayor does that, our fight against dodgy payoffs in the council and to cut the spiralling cost of the Mayor’s staff reinforces that.
"The people of Bristol deserve a Mayor who hasn't forgotten how to be one of them. Someone who knows that £95,000 for the Mayor's chief of staff is nearly four years wages to the average person,” she added.
She said that, as well as trying to scrap the role of mayor, she would also stand on a platform of tackling air pollution, addressing the rising numbers of homeless people and to introduce London-style bus franchising systems in public transport in the city.
"The Mayor has had three years to tackle the problems in our city and he has failed to act.
"Air pollution still at illegal levels and causing hundreds of deaths every year, a public transport system the public has lost faith in with no plan to fix it, and the human tragedy of growing numbers of rough sleepers dying on the streets of Bristol,” she said.
“We need a Mayor whose number one priority is fixing those problems.
“Liberal Democrats demand better for Bristol.
“I believe this is a city of entrepreneurs, innovators and creatives who are being let down time and time again.
“My campaign will focus on healing the divisions in this city, offering real change and delivering opportunity for every Bristolian.
"If you get frustrated or angry with the Mayor, remember it doesn't have to be this way. We can change Bristol together,” she said.
The Liberal Democrats said Mary had lived in Stoke Bishop for 12 years and was a ‘Public Relations and Brand Communications specialist with extensive experience in driving effective multi-sector corporate partnership engagement strategies’.
Bristol Live has asked the Liberal Democrats what a ‘Public Relations and Brand Communications specialist with extensive experience in driving effective multi-sector corporate partnership engagement strategies’ means.
A spokesperson said: "Mary's previous line of work was working with major manufacturers to promote their brand in marketing materials and negotiating these deals etc".
The election for Bristol Mayor take place again in May 2020. In 2022, the ten year period since Bristol voted in a referendum to have an elected mayor will be up, meaning the issue can be revisited.
Lib Dems are going to be putting up a candidate for Bristol mayor who wants to abolish the role
If the elected Mayor of Bristol position is to be scrapped, it would need a second referendum to decide whether to continue with the role or not.
Bristolians have the option to abolish the directly elected city Mayor role in 2022.
A referendum can be triggered by the city Mayor or if five per cent of the population – approximately 23,000 Bristol residents – were to sign a petition.
