Biographies for Independent and non-mainstream party candidates

Here are the biographies for the candidates who are Independent or standing for non-mainstream parties this year.

Mark Wilkinson (Independent) - Failsworth West

I will be standing in Failsworth West as an independent. I have lived in Failsworth for the last 55 years and I am passionate about the place I call home. I have worked in the Criminal Justice system for 46 years as both a Police Officer and then as as a Rehabilitation Manager up until my retirement last year.

To be elected as a Councillor is a great honour, and with that comes great responsibility. I consider it to be the duty of an elected officer to return the faith shown in him/her by the community. Vital to that is the truth, which should come as standard, not as a bargaining tool.

I have no hidden agenda, and simply want to help make Failsworth the best it can possibly be. I am the only candidate to actually live in the Failsworth West ward.

Mark Wilkinson (Image: Mark Wilkinson)

Oldham Council local election candidates - full list

Jane Cashinella-Vaughan (Failsworth Independent Party) - Failsworth West

Born & raised in Failsworth I have one adult daughter, Michaela. I have always played an active part both professionally & personally in the Failsworth Community.

Since retiring from Greater Manchester Police, I became a carer/support worker assisting vulnerable adults with learning disabilities and/or mental health issues to live an independent life. I thoroughly enjoy helping people. I remain active in this role.

I have quietly served the community with advice, help, support, and continue to do so. I have been involved in the in the Green Clean Community Project cleaning up the alleys, including the alley gate system, and have involved myself with the (CSS) Community Safety Services within the local authority at Oldham and have dealt with concerns relating to the alley gated communities within the wards 

I won’t make promises I can’t keep. I will work on your behalf strenuously at Council meetings, representing you and your best interests. I will be a team player with my colleagues in the Failsworth Independent Party.

For the last couple of years, I have worked in the background of the Party, getting to know processes and engaging with some of the projects. FIP have proved to be committed to our area and have worked hard to achieve so much, too much in fact to fit into this bio.

Adding another councillor to the FIP team will strengthen Failsworth’s voice and build on the solid foundation that the Party has established. It is a great team that I am proud to be a part of and I want to take this forward now, spreading this dynamic into Failsworth West, to give that ward the conscious effort that the FIP councillors have given the East ward.

If elected I will give that same commitment working hard and being part of a team that puts Failsworth first in everything they do. I will be an approachable, visible and active Councillor.

Jane Cashinella-Vaughan (Image: Failsworth Independent Party)

Biographies of every Labour candidate standing in the local elections this year

Biographies of every Conservative candidate standing in the local elections this year

Biographies of every Lib Dem candidate standing in the local elections this year

Biographies of every Green candidate standing in the local elections this year

Lucia Rea (Failsworth Independent Party) - Failsworth East

I’ve spent my two years as a councillor contributing on scrutiny committees and council discussions, keeping Failsworth and you the constituents at the forefront of my mind. I've used my seat effectively to speak up at Full Council and challenged things were against. Being a Failsworth resident myself, a small business owner and a single parent, it’s been a pleasure to be able to use my seat at Oldham Council to represent us effectively and informatively, coming from a broader sense of our community, knowing what our area needs, wants and having aspirations for us.

I’ve been at the helm of public discussions making our voice heard, along with Brian & Neil and together we’ve made quite the team, we play each other to our strengths and work brilliantly together, supporting each other and being stronger for it for Failsworth.

I’ve been successful with establishing a lot of good working relationships with various council departments, partners, the police, health practitioners and our district team from OMBC. We, as FIP are able to speak to who we need to for our needs and it makes for more effective results and help for you, Failsworth residents.

It’s been a pleasure to engage with residents at meetings I’ve set up and projects I’ve done to help improve our community life. I have plans in place for further community activity and love that so many of you come out to join us on these. The wellbeing event I done was a real success and lots of you benefited from the array of services that were on offer.

I’ve aimed to keep you and your families at the front of my actions and thoughts whilst representing you and would love the opportunity to build even more on the successes and foundation of your Failsworth independent party.

Lucia Rea (Image: Failsworth Independent Party)

The Oldham Times approached the following candidates but did not receive any biographies: Aisha Kouser (IND) - St Mary's, Naveed Tariq Chohan (IND) - Waterhead, Stuart Allsopp (IND) - Waterhead, Amoy Lindo (IND) - St James, Paul Shilton (IND) - Saddleworth West and Lees, Mustafa Ahmed Mustak (IND) - Coldhurst, Montaz Ali Azad (IND) - Coldhurst, Lisa Roddy (IND) - Chadderton Central, Paul Boots (IND) - Saddleworth South, Mohammed Ali (IND) - Chadderton South, Nyla Ibrahim (IND) - Werneth, Muhammad Irfan (IND) - Hollinwood.

Reform UK, Northern Heart, the Royton Independents, the Shaw and Crompton Independents