Cry Harry for St George Page 9
End of an Era. Juan signs out on 500. But who is our mysterious scribe? Perhaps you’ll find out on page 10.
we introduce ourselves to the Pitiuses first ex-pat elected councillor Lesley Bickerdike Hulme. Page 2
Rugby, it’s just not cricket, in a sports double with F1 China and Jezza page 12 and 13
Our Man in San An? British Ex Pat Martin Makepeace Stands for Election in San Antonio. All the Facts and Full Interview. Plus Our Señora in Formentera, we introduce ourselves to the Pitiuses first ex-pat elected councillor Lesley Bickerdike Hulme. Nick Gibbs
News of a British Ex-Pat candidate standing for election in Ibiza’s 2015 Municipal elections has gained considerable interest in the Spanish media this week. Martin Makepeace, owner of the Ibiza Property Shop estate agency and well known advocate for San Antonio
and campaigner for change in the borough, is standing for election as a P.P. candidate. In the Spanish municipal election system each party can place from one candidate to a maximum dictated by the number of seats in the respective town hall. This is known as the list and candidates are positioned on that list in numerical order. Votes are then cast for each party and the number of seats is dictated by the number of votes. If entitled to 3 seats, the top three on their list are elected to office, if six seats the top six and so on.
Martin is number 12 on the P.P. Party list. Polls predict the P.P. to win 11 seats in San Antonio and so whilst his election is far from guaranteed, his candidature and specifically the P.P. group having approached Martin to stand, does raise some interesting questions. The Ibizan worked closely with Martin, known to many by his Ibiza nickname ’Shaggy’, in the Vote for Your Voice campaign. We asked Martin for a personal interview, here is what he had to say.
Hello Martin, and congratulations on your selection as a candidate in the forthcoming municipal elections. We worked together a lot on the Ex-Pat Registration to Vote campaign which was very successful. Was the level of engagement among the English speaking community one of the factors in deciding now was the time to stand for election?
MM. Our 'Registration to Vote' campaign was the springboard that made me realise how completely underrepresented the Ex-Pat community are in the town halls of Ibiza. Our campaign also made the locals sit up and notice how important the ex-pat community has now become for the future fabric of San Antonio & Ibiza.
I know it is something you have considered before. What other factors made your mind up that 2015 was the year to stand?
MM. I have known the Mayoral Candidate Pepe Sala for many years and helped him previously with his 2003 campaign. When he called and told me of his plans and also the new young team he was putting together I agreed to get involved. This is a forward thinking team full of ideas and energy and I immediately recognised that I could not only work with them but be an integral part of the team and make a significant contribution to the future of San Antonio. I read a quote from you recently “New blood for San Antonio politics plus representation for ex-pats. Will leave the party politics to others.” Why then did you choose to stand as a P.P. candidate in preference to other parties, or as an independent?
MM. I strongly believe in local business, wealth creation and
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