Local Lib Dems announce the candidates for Huntington and New Earswick.

Cllr Keith Orrell (Huntington and New Earswick)

Keith taught children with special educational needs for nearly thirty years, culminating in being Head of a Unit for autistic children.

Keith has been one of the three Liberal Democrat councillors for Huntington and New Earswick since 2003. He followed on from a number of Lib Dem councillors who have worked successfully for the area for many years.

Working with local residents and parish councils, Keith and his Liberal Democrat colleagues have successfully defended the green belt against development proposals. Keith supports the building of housing on brownfield sites such as Sessions, but will continue to campaign against Labour’s plans to build 2,000 houses in Huntington and New Earswick.

Cllr Carol Runciman (Huntington and New Earswick)

Carol has lived in York since 1988. She has been Councillor for Huntington and New Earswick since 1999 and is also a member of New Earswick Parish Council.

Between 2003 and 2011, she was the Executive Member for Children’s Services and oversaw an extensive programme of school building plus significant improvements in school results with an increase in services for children and their families. Having been Deputy Leader of the Council and Lib Dem Group Leader, she is now the Lib Dem Group Chair and spokesperson for Education, Children and Young People.

Carol serves as a governor of Joseph Rowntree School, New Earswick Primary School and of York College. She is also a Trustee of the Theatre Royal and is on the Court of the University of York.

Her career has been in education as a senior manager in a Further Education College, then a local authority Education Officer.

Chris Cullwick (Huntington and New Earswick)

Chris has been involved in developing partnerships between the voluntary sector, businesses and the local authority for more than 30 years.

Associated with the launch of Food Banks, Street Angels and the York City of Faiths initiative, Chris has been employed by York St John University and York Diocese and worked closely with City of York Council developing youth provision and contributing to a programme to tackle poverty.

He has served as a trustee of several charities including YACRO working with ex offenders, Spurriergate and for 8 years served as a governor of Huntington School. Chris is Master elect of the York Guild of Building.

Married to Joy, a psychotherapist, they have two grown up sons and two grandchildren. They have lived in Huntington since 1987 when Chris was invited to lead St Andrews Church. He served Huntington and New Earswick in this capacity for 15 years before taking up wider responsibilities across the city.

for all York Lib Dem candidates, click here.