# 2002 Rushmoor Borough Council election

The 2002 Rushmoor Council election took place on 2 May 2002 to elect members of Rushmoor Borough Council in Hampshire, England. The whole council was up for election with boundary changes since the last election in 2000 reducing the number of seats by 3. The Conservative Party stayed in overall control of the council.

## Candidates

Due to the boundary changes all 42 seats on the council were contested with 119 candidates standing in the election. Among the candidates from the main political parties was Paul Bourke, formerly a Conservative, who stood for the Liberal Democrats in Wellington ward and a former parliamentary candidate John Card for Labour in Mayfield. As well as the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Labour, there were also 9 Green Party candidates contesting the election in Aldershot wards.
Independents standing in the election included the sitting councillor, Patrick Kirby, who was joined by another 2 independent candidates in Knellwood. Other independents were campaigner Peter Sandy in Heron Wood, poet Derek Asker in Empress ward and the many times candidate Arthur Uther Pendragon.
One sitting councillor who did not stand in the election however was John Debenham, who stood down after having served on the council since it was created in 1974.

## Election result

The results saw the Conservatives maintain control of the council after winning 25 of the 42 seats. The Liberal Democrats stayed on 10 seats after regaining a seat in Cove and Southwood, but losing a seat in Manor Park where the deputy mayor George Papresti was defeated. Labour was reduced to 6 seats after losing their last seats in Farnborough, while the only independent elected was Patrick Kirby, who was re-elected in Knellwood.
Split ward results occurred in Knellwood where two Conservatives were elected as well as Patrick Kirby and in St Marks where one Liberal Democrat and two Conservatives won election. The two successful Conservative candidates in Knellwood had to toss a coin to decide which of them would serve 1 or 2 years after they finished with the same number of votes. Roland Dibbs won the coin toss and was elected to 2 years on the council.
Rushmoor Local Election Result 2002 :
| Party | Seats | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Conservative | 25 | +1 | 59.5 | 45.6 | 24,319 | -2.4% |
| Liberal Democrats | 10 | 0 | 23.8 | 28.5 | 15,229 | +0.3% |
| Labour | 6 | -4 | 14.3 | 19.2 | 10,262 | +1.4% |
| Independent | 1 | 0 | 2.4 | 4.5 | 2,401 | -0.9% |
| Green | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.2 | 1,156 | +1.6% |

## Ward results

Cove and Southwood (3) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal Democrats | Maurice Banner | 724 |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Matthews | 647 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Brian Jupp | 608 |
| | Conservative | Alan Chainey | 573 |
| | Conservative | Keith Jenner | 547 |
| | Conservative | David Thomas | 537 |
| | Labour | Edward Shelton | 146 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,782 |
Empress (3) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | Patricia Devereux | 1,139 |
| | Conservative | Rosemary Possee | 1,010 |
| | Conservative | John Wall | 896 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Stephen Chowns | 522 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Bryan Bell | 506 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Derek Wickens | 445 |
| | Labour | Stephen Cottingham | 198 |
| | Independent | Derek Asker | 192 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,908 |
Fernhill (3) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | Alan Ferrier | 714 |
| | Conservative | John Marsh | 646 |
| | Conservative | Kenneth Muschamp | 608 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Sheila Goldie | 306 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Marjorie Pratt | 285 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ena Bocon | 280 |
| | Labour | Simon Wright | 153 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,992 |
Grange (3) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | Michael Smith | 631 |
| | Conservative | Maurice Sheehan | 563 |
| | Conservative | Jon Weston | 520 |
| | Labour | Stella Olivier | 450 |
| | Labour | Barry Jones | 407 |
| | Labour | Terence Bridgeman | 394 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Josephine Fraser-Fleming | 218 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Hazel Manning | 218 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Angela Bramham | 217 |
| | Independent | Arthur Pendragon | 123 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,741 |
Heron Wood (3) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Michael Roberts | 745 |
| | Labour | Frank Rust | 621 |
| | Labour | Donald Cappleman | 612 |
| | Conservative | Hedy Brennan | 344 |
| | Conservative | Sandria Gardiner | 338 |
| | Conservative | Rosemary Stevens | 320 |
| | Independent | Peter Sandy | 182 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Denis Ward | 160 |
| | Green | Ann Hunt | 82 |
| | Green | Adrian Ashurst | 76 |
| | Green | Carrie De Fey | 55 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,535 |
Knellwood (3) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | James Kirby | 756 |
| | Conservative | Roland Dibbs | 735 |
| | Conservative | Paul Taylor | 735 |
| | Conservative | Steffen Stoneman | 661 |
| | Independent | Keith Parkins | 590 |
| | Independent | Gwilym Anthony | 558 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Montserrat Starling | 333 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Margaret Jupp | 330 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Martin Kaye | 316 |
| | Labour | William Tootill | 143 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,157 |
Manor Park (3) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | Colin Balchin | 665 |
| | Conservative | Anthony Gardiner | 656 |
| | Conservative | Claire Burridge | 636 |
| | Liberal Democrats | George Paparesti | 558 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Nickolas Burfield | 456 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Simon Burfield | 432 |
| | Labour | James White | 323 |
| | Labour | Carolyne Culver | 279 |
| | Labour | June Smith | 279 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,284 |
Mayfield (3) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal Democrats | Craig Card | 478 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Charles Fraser-Fleming | 477 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Neville Dewey | 464 |
| | Labour | John Card | 403 |
| | Labour | Clive Grattan | 370 |
| | Labour | Robert Sullivan | 358 |
| | Conservative | Roderick Baulk | 265 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,815 |
North Town (3) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Keith Dibble | 787 |
| | Labour | Susan Dibble | 699 |
| | Labour | Andrew Straker | 630 |
| | Conservative | Keith Stott | 420 |
| | Conservative | Neil Watkin | 378 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Andrew Chittock | 189 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Michael Kilburn | 182 |
| | Green | Adam Stacey | 152 |
| | Green | Samantha Stacey | 148 |
| | Green | Peter Still | 96 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,681 |
Rowhill (3) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | Roger Kimber | 810 |
| | Conservative | David Welch | 753 |
| | Conservative | Mohammad Choudhary | 722 |
| | Labour | Jill Clark | 342 |
| | Labour | Lesley Pestridge | 315 |
| | Labour | Carol Rust | 299 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Richard Ketley | 222 |
| | Green | Peter Barnett | 200 |
| | Green | Julia Fowler | 178 |
| | Green | Timothy Simmons | 169 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,010 |
St John's (3) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | George Dawson | 796 |
| | Conservative | Peter Moyle | 789 |
| | Conservative | Graham Tucker | 767 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Barbara Darby | 402 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Paul Banner | 360 |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Simpkins | 281 |
| | Labour | Mary Lawrance | 236 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,631 |
St Mark's (3) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Starling | 680 |
| | Conservative | Nigel Baines | 673 |
| | Conservative | Diane Bedford | 647 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Alistair Mackie | 633 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Guy Eaglestone | 632 |
| | Conservative | Geraldine Bullard | 616 |
| | Labour | Sean Clarke | 198 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,079 |
Wellington (3) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | David Clifford | 447 |
| | Conservative | Edmund Poole | 420 |
| | Conservative | Francis Williams | 418 |
| | Labour | Alexander Crawford | 245 |
| | Labour | Roy King | 228 |
| | Labour | Jeremy Wines | 210 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Philip Thompson | 174 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Vincent Bourke | 157 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Peter Woodcock | 147 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,446 |
West Heath (3) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal Democrats | Josephine Murphy | 748 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Linda Neal | 730 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Shaun Murphy | 712 |
| | Conservative | Stephen Masterson | 668 |
| | Conservative | Barry Jenner | 664 |
| | Conservative | John Skeggs | 592 |
| | Labour | Philip Collins | 192 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,306 |