the Government's call for commissioners

Boston's "blighted streets" advance councillor's bid to be county Police Commissioner

Events of the past few days have prompted a Boston borough councillor to bring forward an announcement that he intends to stand as Police and Crime Commissioner for Lincolnshire in the elections on Thursday 15^th November.
English Democrat Councillor Elliott Fountain who represents Fenside, said that he was going to wait until June or July to make the announcement - “but due to the massive outbreak of anti-social behaviour and another recent death on Boston's streets I feel now is the right time.”
Councillor Fountain is the second Boston councillor to throw his hat in the ring for the commissioner’s job – for which a salary of between £65,000 and £100,000 a year has been quoted.
The Labour group’s deputy leader, Councillor Paul Gleeson, has been short listed as one of two party candidates for the post. Councillor Gleeson, who has lived in Boston for just over ten years, represents Skirbeck ward, and before moving to Boston lived in South Oxfordshire, where he was a district and town councillor.
The Conservatives have nominated a Spalding-educated career politician Lee Rotherham, who once handcuffed himself outside a police station in protest at red tape which removed officers from the street. Mr Rotherham once worked for the former Boston MP Sir Richard Body, and currently has a part-time role with Spalding MP John Hayes.
“I was in the Boston Borough Council’s Environment and Performance Committee meeting the other night when Inspector Phil Clark was telling councillors that Boston's streets are safe,” said Councillor Fountain.
“He then had to leave the meeting early so that he could go and shut the fair down.
“Last week at the fair there were running battles, people getting bottled and hit with wheel braces, then a few days later there has been an assault on the streets resulting in the death of a 72 year old man.”
“The streets are blighted with people drinking everywhere. I believe Lincolnshire deserves better and needs someone in charge of the police who is in touch with the community.”
The Conservative candidate already has a dedicated website called lee4lincs which sets out his policies in detail. 
Councillor Fountain expects to make some broad policy announcements in the next day or two.
Labour will select their candidate by ballot, with voting papers going out to party members the week after next and the announcement of the result being made in mid-June.
“Conservatives will be favourites to win,” Councillor Fountain told Boston Eye, “but I believe this candidate’s weakness is that he is a career politician who has run in elections all over the country. He turned his back on Lincolnshire a long time ago, whereas I am Lincolnshire born and raised - my family have been here for hundreds of years …
“For this reason I care about this area and the safety of my children and family …”
“I will be taking a one third pay cut, and will give this money to a trust to help youths start businesses. I am not sure what other candidates will come forward, but I would expect to be the youngest, therefore putting me more in touch with the youth of today ...”
“Mr Rotherham speaks about working for Sir Richard Body when he was a Conservative - but now Sir Richard is an English Democrat.
“He is in poor health and elderly, but has assured me he will try his best to visit Lincolnshire to express his support for me, which should help with the older voters because thousands of them have voted for him in the past.” 

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