THE Conservative and Green parties have announced their candidates to be the next West of England Metro Mayor.
Former Bristol city councillor Steve Smith has been named as the Tory candidate, while Heather Mack, the city council’s deputy leader, is the Greens’ choice.
Both will stand in the election to replace Labour’s Dan Norris, who is unable to stand again after being elected as an MP and banned from having two jobs by his party.
Mr Smith is a former Lord Mayor of Bristol, and represented the Westbury-on-Trym & Henleaze ward from 2018 until May, when all three Tory incumbents were ousted by Lib Dems.
He is first major party nominee to be announced, following a meeting of local party members on November 9.
During his time as a councillor Mr Smith sat on the West of England Combined Authority scrutiny committee, chaired the city council’s health overview and scrutiny committee and was Lord Mayor from 2021-22.
He has pledged to bring “grown-up leadership back to the combined authority” and boost economic growth.
Mr Smith said: “Our region has huge potential to lead in areas such as innovation, green technology and sustainable growth, but we need strong leadership to unlock that potential for everyone in our community.
“I am committed to working tirelessly to create a West of England that works for everybody, where political leaders can be trusted to work together and where the West of England is able to reach its full potential and grow our economy for everyone’s benefit.”
Heather Mack’s selection was announced by the Green Party four days later.
The Lockleaze ward member was first elected in 2021. She previously worked for Oxfam and on sustainable food systems.
Cllr Mack said: “We’ve seen in recent elections that there is a real appetite for green solutions in the West Country. I hope to add to our Green wins across the region this year and offer a vision of real hope and real change.
“We have been a consistently poorly performing authority, largely due to the lack of a serious commitment to public transport and vocational skills. As WECA leader, I would have the courage to use the powers and funding that go with the role to deliver the mass transit and sustained economic success our region needs.”
Labour members were voting on their candidate as the Voice went to print. The two South Gloucestershire councillors originally on the party’s shortlist, Sean Rhodes and Ian Scott, were cut by a selection panel before the vote.
Includes reporting by Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service