New councillor promises to carry on colleague's work

NEW county councillor Michael Brand has dedicated his election victory to councillor Peter Mullins who died in a car crash in March.

Liberal Democrat Cllr Brand paid tribute to the late Cllr Mullins after winning the Amersham East seat at the Buckinghamshire County Council by-election last Thursday.

Cllr Brand polled 878 votes, ahead of conservative candidate Pauline Wilkinson (595 votes), and Labour's Lynda Greenhill (165 votes).

Last year, May's county elections saw Cllr Mullins win the seat for the Liberal Democrat Party after defecting from the Conservatives two years earlier.

Cllr Brand said after his victory: "In the run up to this by-election, one name has come to the fore more than any other. That name is Peter Mullins. I am very proud that people have elected me to continue the work that he did.

"He was so passionate about his work and I feel that, today, the people of Amersham East have endorsed his passion fully. I will always remember the tremendous times I had when I was working with Peter Mullins and I am delighted to be able to carry on where he left off."

Defeated Tory candidate Pauline Wilkinson said: "This wasn't an election I would have wanted to fight under the circumstances of Peter Mullins' death. It was with very mixed feelings I came into this by-election."

There was a 28 per cent turnout for the by-election.

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