Joanna Burrows is the Liberal Democrat candidate in the Cottesmore by-election

4.34.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Sun 10th May 2009

East Midlands Newspapers

Joanna Burrows, who lives in Oakham, is contesting the Cottesmore ward by-election on 21st May on behalf of the Lib Dems. The Cottesmore ward consists of Cottesmore itself, Market Overton, Barrow and Teigh. It is hoped that as many Lib Dems turn out to vote for her as possible. This is part of her campaign leaflet:

*Why a new voice should be heard in Rutland County Council:

Frustrated by the Tory led local council, Joanna would like to see local government that listens, that provides sums that add up, and that feels it needs to be accountable to the local people for their money. She is not impressed by the nonchalant dismissive way requests for information about the £200,000 of local money that has been lost in the Icelandic banking crisis have been dealt with, and questions many of the planning decisions and how they have been arrived at.

Grahame Hudson, the prospective parliamentary candidate for the Liberal Democrats in Rutland and Melton, is wholly behind Joanna in her bid to represent the Cottesmore ward. He agrees with Joanna that the Conservative leadership of Rutland County Council needs to be much more accountable and transparent in their interaction with the electors and council tax payers in Rutland. He believes Joanna is an outstanding Liberal Democrat candidate with her considerable experience of working in health care and the voluntary sector. The Liberal Democrats are committed to working for open and accountable local democracy and government and devolving power down to local communities away from Whitehall.

Rutland County Council is led and dominated by the large majority Tory group. She will be free to challenge their decisions and not be just one more Tory.

*The credentials of a professional and caring voice:

Joanna Burrows is a qualified nurse who currently works for a charitable organisation in Melton Mowbray, on projects to strengthen the local community. In the last couple of years she has brought a credit union to the people of Melton, enabling them to move away from the crippling cycle of debt they have to endure when they borrow from door step lenders, has set up youth projects to keep young people active and involved in positive activities, and supported residents' groups to make their voice more effectively heard.

She has worked as a ward sister, specialising in neuro-surgery and in general and residential nursing in France, Australia and the United States. Joanna was educated in Oakham and returned to Rutland after fifteen years in the USA. Whilst in America she held an elected position on a local council. Back in England in 2003 she became incensed about the reasons and possible repercussions of the Iraq war, and marched in London alongside our local MEP Bill Newton Dunn to protest against it.