Dear Editor,
In the first by-election for County Council since last May’s elections, we see the Labour Party back in top form topping the poll in Ferryhill and Kirk Merrington. This wasn’t achieved by apathy towards the other candidates and parties, this was achieved because we put forward a brilliant candidate and ran a brilliant campaign.
Since May we have taken a step back, reassessed and we have learnt from the by-elections here in Newton Aycliffe for Town Council. We spent most weekdays and every weekend speaking to voters, listening, and taking on their views to better shape our campaign. While every other party insisted on the traditional Labour bashing, we put forward a positive vision for change in Ferryhill and Kirk Merrington, the County as a whole and, most importantly, we listened to the electorate. We didn’t have time to be negative about our opposition because we were too busy listening to every voter we spoke to.
We want to take this even further so we will be starting a spring of doorstep surgeries right here in Newton Aycliffe over the next few months. We will be coming to you, the electorate, and seeing how we can help and how we can best represent your views in the town and county council chambers.
Simon Hocking
From 6th to 1st Place
![From 6th to 1st Place](https://www.newtonnews.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/letters-4.jpg)