One candidate less could leave poll wide open

Nominations for the Boston North West seat on Lincolnshire County Council must be in by noon on Friday.
The election was won in June by Conservative Andrea Jenkyns, but she was forced to resign after the sharp eyes and ears of Boston Labour Party's Paul Kenny discovered that she worked a small number of hours every week for a department of Lincolnshire County Council and had been ineligible to stand ... even though she checked with the county at the time and was misinformed.
Just for fun, we decided to try to construct a preview ahead of the closing date for nominations, and asked those who stood last time whether they intended to throw their hats into the ring once again.
Since then, some parties have already announced new candidates, and two of those to whom we wrote - Mr Kenny and Councillor Alison Austin didn't bother to respond. No surprises there.
So here's what we know so far.....
Miss Jenkyns will be standing once more for the Conservatives.
Boston Borough Councillor David Owens, who currently represents Fenside, replaces the previous candidate for British National Party, who came second last time.
Mike Sheridan-Shinn will be standing for the Liberal Democrats - again as a new candidate - and having already lost two elections at county and borough level this year is doubtless hoping for "third time lucky."
Boston Borough's Independent Councillor Richard Leggott will be standing again, but Andrew Bakewell, who stood last time as an independent after a lifetime of serving Labour, will not.
That leaves the BBI, which was represented by Mrs Austin last time, and Labour - whose candidate Pam Kenny is the wife of the man who started this whole ball rolling.
Miss Jenkyns's a majority was 89,and given the anger at the way she was forced out, she has to be considered a highly popular candidate.
But Councillor Owens must also have high hopes the second time around, as his Fenside ward and Boston North West share a lot of the same ground, which makes him a better known candidate than his predecessor.
Although Mr Kenny hasn't replied to our enquiry, we have already said that we thought he might well contest the ward instead of his wife - particularly as he was the man whose actions prompted the by-election. Add to that the fact he hopes to be elected as Boston's MP at next year's General Election, and he really needs to come up with some sort of result after losing two local elections earlier this year.
Similarly, we wondered if Councillor Richard Austin might contest Boston North West rather than his wife for the chance to again become a voice at County Hall, rebuild some important personal credibility, and perhaps be taken seriously again. But he has ruled a challenge out, so presumably Mrs A will stand again.
Certainly, the extra 82 votes now available due to Andrew Bakewell's decision to stand down could play a pivotal role in the election on 15th October.
The full results for Boston North West on 4th June were:
Andrea Jenkyns - Conservative 463
Colin Westcott - British National Party 374
Alison Austin - Boston Bypass Independents 283
Richard Leggott - Independent 279 Pam Kenny - Labour 205
Paul Appleby - Liberal Democrat 130
Andrew Bakewell -Independent 82



You can write to us at boston.eye@googlemail.com Your e-mails will be treated in confidence and published anonymously if requested.