Cllr MIke Haines, of Southey Lane, Kingskerswell, leader of the Teignbridge Council group of Independents, writes:
As I had no intention of standing for the county council elections (although I gather that some thought I would), I was looking forward to a relaxed view of events as an informed spectator.
However, Antony Ballinger's attack on Independents in his letter on April 24 leaves me with no alternative but to reply.
First a bit of history. independents on Teignbridge Council worked with the Conservatives prior to the 2003 election, but after that election the Conservatives chose to go into 'opposition' and the Independent group worked with the Lib Dems on the Executive.
There was no suggestion from the Conservatives to change this after the 2007 election when, as before, neither the Conservatives nor Lib Dems had a majority.
Mr Ballinger derides independents as he claims they 'confuse the voters' or 'sneak in by the back door,' but in the 2007 Teignbridge election for the Kerswell with Combe ward (for which we both stood), everyone was quite clear on my position on the Kingskerswell bypass, while he seemed to sit on the fence.
Who was confusing the voters then, and why?
I will be interested to see the views of county candidates on this matter during May.
He asks who 'so called independents' vote for. In my experience iin 22 years at Teignbridge many support his party.
I prefer to vote for the person, and might not support someone who is so keen to 'nail their colours to the mast' as sometimes those people seem rather blinkered and do what the party tells them without question.
I don't know yet how many Independents are standing for the county council elections, but I would urge readers to give them a good hearing.
However, I also recognise that the political parties will have some good candidates, so I have yet to decide who I will be voting for.