THE candidates and their agents for the local elections will no doubt be busy preparing their election leaflets.

It is to be hoped that they will not quote national party policies, which has been the case in recent years.

The function of a local councillor is to work in the best interests of the town and its people regardless of which government is in power.

Election leaflets used to contain information about the candidates, such as their family, education, work experience and what they propose to do for the town and the people of Bolton. This enabled voters to decide whether the candidates were suitable people to represent their views in the council chamber.

Some candiates have been councillors for so long that people who have moved into the area since they were first elected will not know anything about them.

Others will have forgotten about who they are and what they stand for. Similarly, the electorate will not know anything about candidates putting up for election for the first time.

The public is thus presented with a list of names of people they know nothing about, so it is not surprising turnouts at elections is so low.

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