Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!

May 2010 Harringay Ward Local Candidates

Liberal Democrat Party

Cllr Karen Alexander

HoL Page: Yes

Profile on Haringey Council Website: Yes

Profile on Openly Local: Yes

Other online profile: Public Twitter page, Profile on Harringay Liberal Democrats website

Karen's Interview with HoL:

From Harringay Lib Dem Website:

I was born and brought up in Upminster, Essex, where I lived until 1986, the year I met my husband - Mark. We first moved to Hackney, and then in 1996 moved to the Harringay Ladder. From the moment I moved to London I loved it, and having spent over half my life here I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. No where else offers the cultural, racial, social and ethnic diversity of London and this is especially true of Harringay.

As a borough it has so much to offer – lots of lovely green spaces, historical buildings (such as the wonderful Alexandra Palace) and lovely restaurants. It is a place that is rich in culture and history. The pride of standing in front of Alexandra Palace on a sunny day and looking at the city in the distance can’t be underestimated – it is just the most fantastic feeling.

I thought this from the moment I moved here but as time moved on I realised that it could be so much better. Complaining about things wasn’t realistically going to achieve anything, so in 2005 I decided to run for Haringey Council.

In the months that followed, David Schmitz and I took on the daunting task of winning Lib Dem seats in a Harringay ward for years dominated by the Labour party. It was a massive challenge but in May 2006 we won two libdem seats here. Unfortunately David wasn’t one of them but my ward colleague, Carolyn Baker and I have worked tirelessly, with David, and more recently Chris Ford, at our side, to make Harringay a better place for all of us.

A little bit more about me. I am married and have two young children. I work for two days per week for a law firm in the city. I am a keen photographer and I enjoy history, especially local history. I am energetic, enthusiastic and will continue to work tirelessly for the ward. Indeed, as a resident myself I of course have a vested interest in making it the most fantastic place to live – a place where people want to move to and more importantly, a place where people want to stay. Living here on the Ladder means that I know exactly what issues we face in our ward.

During the past four years as a council member I have sat on the Planning Committee and was opposition lead member on the Overview & Scrutiny Committee last year. I currently sit on the General Purposes Committee and Corporate Parenting Committee and manage local authority school governor recruitment for the Libdems. At a ward level I am a member of the Green Lanes Strategy Group and the Police Ward Panel. I also regularly attend the Ladder Community Safety Partnership.

In addition to my council commitments I am also on the temporary governing board for the new school in Wood Green, Heartlands High School.

Chris Ford

HoL Page: Yes

Profile on Haringey Council Website: None

Profile on Openly Local: None

Other online profile: Profile on Harringay Liberal Democrats website, Facebook Page

Chris's Interview with HoL:

From Harringay Lib Dem Website:

I have lived in Haringey my whole life; firstly in Tottenham, and then Stroud Green where I spent most of my childhood. Since leaving my family home I have lived in St. Ann’s, and now live on the Harringay Ladder where I have been for three years. In 2008 I graduated from UCL with a degree in Politics with East European Studies. I have since worked for the BBC, a political think tank (The Gulf Centre for Strategic Studies), and a window manufacturing firm in Leytonstone. In recent years I have also worked in the Beaconsfield Pub (Green Lanes), and as stage crew at the Royal Albert Hall. Finding full-time employment has been difficult since university, but in many ways working part-time has enabled me to devote more energy to local campaigning through my volunteer work with the local Liberal Democrats.

I currently work three days per week for a small accountancy practice, and volunteer three days per week with the Lib Dems. I also teach guitar voluntarily with our local community group, PHASCA, as well as private lessons.

I am putting myself forward as a candidate in Harringay ward because as a genuine local I have an in depth knowledge of the area, a firm grasp of the local issues affecting us all as residents, and a very personal connection with the place I have always called home. I am passionate about Harringay and well positioned to devote more time and effort to council work than many other Councillors can afford.

In terms of my priorities should I be elected, I would highlight the following: specifically, I am determined to work tirelessly with the Council to crack down on HMOs in our ward, and to drive the effective enforcement of laws against litter, fly tipping and irresponsible dog owners. I am also particularly keen to find ways of tackling the high volumes of traffic passing through our ward, and to make much more of our shared open spaces.

More generally, I am desperate to reengage people in local politics, especially people of my age group. Being young and far from the traditional ‘politician mould’, I feel I am well placed to do this. I also want to bring fresh ideas to the table in terms of how Councillors communicate with their electorate, and how residents can communicate with their Councillors – I believe firmly that for Councillors to be truly accountable, they must be easily accessible. Reforming the structure and communication of our Area Assemblies is just one thing I am particularly keen to address.

Finally I want to work towards a greener and more sustainable Harringay. Aside from recycling I save money by using my bike, and I enjoy growing my own fruit & veg. I am keen to encourage residents to recycle more, use their cars less, and make the most of their gardens.

Recreationally I enjoy music - playing guitar, ‘cello and singing, gardening, cycling, local history, all things political, art, and not to forget, the mighty Spurs!

David Schmitz

HoL Page: Yes

Profile on Haringey Council Website: None

Profile on Openly Local: None

Other online profile: Profile on Harringay Liberal Democrats website, Profile on LibDem website, Public Facebook page

David's Interview with HoL:

From HoL Personal Page:

As a long-term Ladder resident and as the somewhat mature father of a young family, I have become increasingly interested in issues which affect our community. This has led me to become a governor of the South Harringay Junior School, and a member of the Ladder Community Safety Partnership and the Tottenham Civic Society. It has also led me to work closely with Harringay Ward Councillors Carolyn Baker and Karen Alexander.

I am the Lib Dem prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Tottenham and am also a prospective candidate for election to Haringey Council from Harringay Ward. As a practising barrister I have on occasion given legal help to various community group

Labour Party

Cllr Gina Adamou

HoL Page: Yes

Profile on Haringey Council Website: Yes

Profile on Openly Local: Yes

Other online profile: Member's page on HoL

Gina's interview with HoL:

From HoL Personal Page:

I am standing for the local election, because I believe that I can still make a difference in Harringay Ward. I have a great deal of experience of case work for local residents, I hold a busy surgery and increasingly deal with enquiries and casework by e mail. I have assisted local people on issues like housing, benefits, neighbour problems, planning issues etc.

An example of a recent case is that of a young care leaver who has got problems with a bad landlord, and also has got benefits/financial problems. I am helping her to get legal advice and deal with the issues affecting her life.

Through my work as a councillor work in Harringay ward I am constantly reminded why I got involved in local politics. I made a journey familiar to many women. I did not have the opportunity to finish my education, having come to Britain in 1960 with my family as a teenager. I married and had children young, working part time in low paid jobs. When all my children finished from Haringey schools, I then started getting involved in local politics in an active way. The issues I care passionately about include housing (I spent nearly half my life living in poor quality privately rented accommodation). Which is why, I have been working on HMO issues, leading to our area becoming a pilot for additional action for Haringey.

Poverty is a crucial issue for the ward, having experienced it personally, I believe in good state education, as a way of giving all young people a chance to achieve their potential. All my children and grand children are or have been in Harringay/Haringey schools.

Equality of opportunity, education is crucial to this, but so are good services and advice in particular for disadvantaged communities, often where English is not their first language. I have also experienced this, going back into further education once my children were old enough for me to have the time. I have worked and supported many voluntary sector organisations that provide support and advice.

I am passionate about ensuring good services are there for people who have pressures on life and need some support. Carers are one such group and I recently lead on a review of services to carers, recommendations to go to the cabinet.

I care about local environmental issues, I lobbied to get this ward the first in the east of the borough with a full recycling service, and yes I do report pot holes and pavements all over the ward for repair. I lead on two scrutiny reviews of recycling, with recommendations leading to the opening of the Hornsey centre. I am proud of the work with local residents and groups, this includes helping to raise funds to improve local parks, including Ducketts Common and Fairland Park.

As mayor I worked with my committee to raise funds for the Whittington Hospital pre-natal unit, to support families of premature babies. I am proud to say that we raised nearly £18,000 by holding fund raising events, including an “Elvis” night. I strongly believe in the NHS and have direct experience of the Whittington and North Middlesex Hospital. Through my work on the scrutiny Committee, I recently examined mental health provision making recommendations for improvement of services. Locally I chair the area assembly, which what ever else could be said about it, residents do have their say. I am keen to improve this further and recently met with local residents to discuss ideas.

I remain committed to working for Harringay; I have lived in the ward since 1972, and did not rush to get into politics, but got actively involved when I could. The area is constantly changing, with new groups often with similar issues to past communities, but increasingly diverse and lively. My experience as a councillor means that I continue to support our Harringay community. There have been many improvements over the years, including better street lighting and community safety. However, there is plenty of work still to be done. There are too many betting shops, too much poor housing and many other issues in the area, but those of us who are committed to living In Harringay, are working for improvements. I have developed as a local councillor in Harringay, only ever standing here where I live for the Labour Party, and believe I have the experience and local knowledge to continue working for local residents.

Nora Mulready

HoL Page: Yes

Profile on Haringey Council Website: None

Profile on Openly Local: None

Other online profile: Public Twitter profile, Nora Mulready's You Tube channel

Nora's Interview with HoL:

From the candidate:

Nora Mulready grew up in Hackney and has lived in Harringay for the last four years. For the past three years Nora has worked as the caseworker for Labour MP David Lammy. This means that when people contact the MP for assistance with specific problems, Nora works with him to try to help. On a daily basis Nora works on cases including housing, benefits and immigration and more.

In Harringay ward Nora has a proven record of achieving change in relation to unlawful property conversions, with half a dozen properties currently in the process of being reconverted due to the work she has undertaken with a number of local residents. She was part of the local team who organised the Harringay Green Lanes festival, running and comparing the music stage on the day. Along with her fellow Harringay candidates, she has played a key role in the campaign to secure a national commitment from the Labour Party on betting shop legislation.

Nora is passionate about tackling the housing problems in the borough and believes that this would radically improve the life chances of some of the most deprived people in Haringey.

Nora is a musician, playing Irish music on the fiddle. She is 27, lives with her partner, a teacher, and is expecting their first child in July.

Jonathan Vellapah

HoL Page: Yes

Profile on Haringey Council Website: None

Profile on Openly Local: None

Other online profile: None

Jonathan's interview with HoL:

From HoL Personal Page:

I am standing for election in Harringay ward, where I live, after volunteering my time in a number of ways in the last four years in the Ward. I have lived and worked with in the borough for most of my life. I have come to realise that to make more of a difference locally; I wish to be elected as a local councillor.

I first got involved in Harringay ward assisting councillor Gina Adamou, with her surgery. With a range of complex cases including housing, neighbour disputes, benefits, leaving care, educational, local business issues, general access to council services and dealing with the local government ombudsman. In an area like Harringay alongside all the strengths of the local community, there are residents with extreme disadvantage, including poverty, bad housing conditions; this socio-economic disadvantage motivates me to be involved to campaign to promote fair access to services for all residents.

I have also volunteered my time as the secretary to the Harringay Safer Neighbourhood Team, they were looking for someone to be a member and take minutes at the meeting and I volunteered. The members work with the police on priority areas, to improve community safety. I was a victim of a street crime in Harringay myself, so understand how it feels.

As a member of South Harringay Junior School Governing Body, and vice chair, I have spent countless hours on budgets, HR, premises and curriculum issues. I am a strong supporter of state education, as a way of promoting aspiration amongst young people and giving many a route out of economic disadvantage, and personal fulfilment. I work for an education charity and am committed to improvement in standards and inclusion in education. I believe that education is about life long learning and is one way in which we can enrich our community.

I continue to work with a number of voluntary and community sector organisations, helping to fundraise, writing bids and advise on governance issues. I am the project officer for the Friend’s of Ducketts Common. I was part of a fundraising team in Haringey working for the mayor’s charity. To raise funding for the pre natal ward at the Whittington Hospital, for families of premature babies. If anybody told me a few years ago I would be standing for the election, I would have been surprised as I never planned to go into politics. Through volunteering and getting myself involved in local issues, I see that politics can be part of the solution; I am standing in the ward I live in because I want to be a true local councillor.

I like many British Asian young people, have helped in the family run business which included, clothing, wool & haberdashery and the newsagent in Haringey, getting up before dawn sorting and delivering newspapers, before going to school. I learnt about the reality of running small business including all the issues to do with tax, VAT and business rates. I understand that small local business form the life blood of a community through direct engagement with the people who live, work and are brought up in the area.

After university, I spent most of my working life in the private sector, from Primark to Christian Dior.

While working in retail, I formed links with the Voluntary sector for the creation of local jobs and opportunities, involving school leavers, offering opportunities to hard to reach groups and promoting fair work opportunities for all members of the community. I worked directly with young and unemployed people, giving them the opportunity to get work experience and have seen the positive effect of this on their self esteem and future aspirations.

I am using my knowledge, skills and abilities to help better my community. Those of you who know me in person or have seen me at meetings will understand my questioning nature of not adhering to the status quo and questioning, what can be done rather than accepting what can’t be done.

Through getting involved in my local community, I see that politics can make a difference, and am standing as a Labour Party candidate to work for Harringay ward, with the local community in all its rich diversity. I would be very proud to be one of the elected representatives of the community I live in, to work inclusively with local residents for Harringay ward.

Conservative Party

Tim Caines