9 Feb 2016

RCVS and VN councils elections 2016: quiz the candidates

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Holly Kernot

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RCVS and VN councils elections 2016: quiz the candidates

Do you have a question for those standing in this year’s RCVS and VN council elections?

Members of the UK veterinary professions are being invited to “quiz the candidates” standing for election in this year’s RCVS and VN council elections.

Question mark
Do you have a question for those standing in this year’s RCVS and VN council elections?

Vets and RVNs can put their questions directly to all those standing for election via email or social media. Each candidate will then be invited to choose two questions from all those received and produce a video recording of their answers.

All recordings will be published on the RCVS website on 17 March.

RCVS council candidates

There are eight candidates contesting six places in the RCVS council, including four existing members eligible for re-election and four new candidates. They are:

  • Christopher Barker
  • Amanda Boag
  • Melissa Donald
  • Lucie Goodwin
  • Thomas Lonsdale
  • Stephen May
  • Cheryl Scudamore
  • Christopher (Kit) Sturgess

VN council candidates

Nick Stace
RCVS chief executive Nick Stace hopes the “quiz the candidates” initiative will encourage more people to get involved.

Six veterinary nurses are contesting two places in the VN council elections, all of whom are new candidates. They are:

  • Stacey Bullock
  • Racheal Marshall
  • Wendy Nevins
  • Matthew Rendle
  • Samantha Thompson
  • Helen Tottey

Encouraging involvement

RCVS chief executive Nick Stace said: “Last year, all election candidates produced videos for the first time and, with over 3,500 views in total, it seemed a popular way for voters to find out more about the individuals who were standing.

“Providing a way for all vets and VNs to put their own questions to the candidates is now an integral part of the elections and one which we hope will continue to encourage people to get involved and have their say.”

Vets and VNs should email their question (limited to one per person) to vetvote16@rcvs.org.uk or VNvote16@rcvs.org.uk, post it on the RCVS Facebook page or on Twitter using the hashtags #vetvote16 or #VNvote16 by midday on 29 February.

  • Ballot papers and candidates’ details are due to be posted to all vets and VNs eligible to vote during the week commencing 14 March and votes must be cast, either online or by post, by 5pm on 29 April.