Brightlingsea will have six candidates to vote for in the forthcoming Essex County Council (ECC) election on May 7.
The choice for voters in the Brightlingsea division will be between:
- Mat Court, Independent
- Gary Scott Liberal Democrat
- Aimee Keteca, Reform
- Ric Morgan, Conservative
- Oli Mupenda, Labour
- Ben Harvey, Green
Conservative councillor Alan Goggin is standing down after representing town at county hall since 2014. He also sat on Tendring District Council (TDC) for eight years and Brightlingsea Town Council (BTC) for 10.
County councillors would usually serve for four years, but whoever is elected this time will only be in office for two years because ECC will be abolished in 2028 when five new unitary authorities will formed. Elections for those authorities will take place in May 2027 and members will form a “shadow authority” for one year, preparing for the launch of the new councils while the old councils still exist.
The usual four-year term was further reduced after the 2025 county council elections were cancelled – ostensibly to avoid new councillors having to deal with the reorganisation process – and then reinstated for this year.
This election will also see changes to the Brightlingsea division, which currently includes Great Bentley, Thorrington, Alresford, St Osyth and Point Clear. Boundary changes to balance voter numbers across the county’s 78 divisions have moved St Osyth and Point Clear to a new Clacton West and St Osyth division, while Elmstead moves into the Brightlingsea division.
Voter registration closes on Monday, April 20 with the deadline for postal vote applications falling at 5pm a day later. To register to vote, visit gov.uk/register-to-vote or contact the Election Registration Team at [email protected] or call 01255 686575.
