The Green Party candidate for the Stroud District Council Stroud Central ward by-election is Cate James-Hodges.
This will be the second time that Cate has stood for election to SDC. In the May 2024 local elections she came a close second: the results were David Drew (Labour) 408, Cate James-Hodges (Green) 326, Susan Cursham (Conservative) 70.
The by-election is being held due to David Drew’s recent unexpected resignation from Stroud District Council and from his seats on Gloucestershire County Council (GCC) and Stroud Town Council.
Cate James-Hodges works as the political assistant to the 22-strong Green group that leads Stroud District Council. She has been a member of the Stroud District Youth Council since 2019 and was its Leader for two years until June 2024.
These roles have given her wide ranging public speaking and communication experience as an elected officer, an understanding of how councils operate and make policy, and experience of connecting with individuals and groups in the local community on the delivery of local services.
She won the 2023 Stroud Town Council Young Person of the Year award.
Cate said: “I came so close last May to winning the Stroud Central seat. The results showed that there is enormous support for the Greens in Central Stroud. On the campaign trail, residents often told me they would welcome a change from the stereotypical perception they have of local politicians. There was appetite among the voters for a younger councillor who has energy, enthusiasm and lives in the ward.”
If elected, Cate will get involved in SDC’s work on climate and nature action, community services and housing. She would also like to see more council-run recreation facilities, and measures to improve safety for women, and will work to encourage more young people to vote.
The Greens are also fielding a candidate for the Stroud Central GCC seat, which was also occupied by David Drew until the Labour Party decided that he would not be standing for re-election this year. The Green candidate is Cllr Natalie Rothwell-Warn, who is the district councillor for Slade ward (pictured, right, with Cate).