May 2026 West Surrey County Council Elections – Guildford South West Ward

Published on: 1 May, 2026
Updated on: 1 May, 2026

Candidates for Local Elections May 2026 for West Surrey County Council – Guildford Area

The old Surrey County Council divisions have become the new West Surrey Council wards, each represented by two councillors.

Guildford South West Ward

Each candidate was asked to respond to the following:

Why are you standing for election to the West Surrey County Council on May 7?
What are the two biggest issues in your ward? What will you be able to do about them?
Can you give your word that you will put your residents’ interests before those of your party?

Booker, Honor Jean Conservative Party

I’m Honor Brooker, standing for West Surrey Unitary. I’m a retired Intensive Care nurse, having worked at my local hospital for over twenty years. I’ve served as a Guildford Borough Councillor for three years and sit on the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

I’m also an appointed Governor at the Royal Surrey Foundation Trust. I regularly attend Parish and Village Association meetings, sharing updates on council plans while staying closely connected to residents’ concerns and priorities.

I’m committed to listening, being visible, and representing our community with care and experience.

Fray, Matt Green Party

I am standing for West Surrey Council to help make our area fairer and greener, with a focus on housing and education.

I work in social housing and see daily both the pressures in the system and the difference it makes when it works well. West Surrey should increase social housing to improve energy efficiency and meet residents’ needs. This is both an environmental priority and a practical response to the housing crisis.

I will work to support children with special educational needs and disabilities. As a parent with direct experience of the SEND system, I understand how difficult it is for families to access support. The council should resource SEND teams and improve in-house services, improving outcomes while reducing costly external provision.

More broadly, environmental progress and social fairness must go together. By focusing on both, West Surrey can build a more sustainable and equitable future for its residents.

Goodwin, Angela Marie Liberal Democrats

Angela Goodwin has proudly served the Guildford community as a Borough Councillor since 2015 and a Surrey County Councillor since 2017.

A long-time resident of Guildford for over 30 years, Angela cares deeply about the area and the people who live here. She is passionate about supporting residents and making sure their voices are heard.

At Guildford Borough Council, Angela is a Member of the Executive and leads on Environment and Sustainability, covering climate change, parks and countryside, waste and recycling, playgrounds, and local services that matter to everyday life. At Surrey County Council, she is one of the Vice Chairs of the Adults & Health Scrutiny Committee, helping ensure vital services meet the needs of residents.

Angela believes in keeping people informed and involved, with open and honest communication at the heart of her work.

In her spare time, she enjoys walking her dog, travelling, and looking after her garden.

Hester, André Stuart Conservative Party

I’m married with 3 children and 2 granddaughters and currently living in Park Barn. Born in St Luke’s Hospital in1962, I lived in Old Court Road growing up and attended Ludlow Road School then to Queen Eleanor’s and finally Park Barn secondary school.

From school I worked at La Boulangerie bakery that had shops around the Guildford area and town for over 20 years.

Since 2000 I have worked for Royal Mail in Guildford, having been the Delivery Officer Manager for several years, I now deliver mail to Guildford businesses at the Surrey Research Park.

When not working, I enjoy playing golf as an artisan and watching rugby to maintain a balanced, creative lifestyle.

If elected, I am committed to working hard for the residents of Guildford South West.

Hives, Steve Liberal Democrats

I live with my family in the heart of Guildford South West. Now semi-retired I had previously and for many years run an IT consultancy business.

I was elected in 2023 and was duly asked to sit on a number of committees. With the Planning Committee I will actively defend our green spaces. On several occasions I have made a stand to defend the green belt and won.

I sit on the Overview & Scrutiny, and the Audit & Risk Committees which scrutinize the daily running of the Council to ensure checks and balances are maintained and finances are closely controlled.

I am also a former soldier. I have served my country. Each year you will see me in Guildford High Street in the lead up to Remembrance Sunday shaking a tin. As Armed Forces Champion I advocate on behalf of the families of Service personnel.

Le Chaminent, John Peter Reform – Changing Politics for Good

I’m a project manager and after decades of delivering complex global projects, I’m used to getting things done; not talking endlessly about them.

I am a practical facilitator who prides myself on making decisions based on facts and delivering results, which is a mindset I am determined to bring to local government.

In South West Guildford, infrastructure, service delivery and accountability are key. I will focus on ensuring projects are delivered properly and public money is spent effectively.

I am committed to challenging the current culture of delay and under- delivery by bringing together expertise and listening to professional advice to get the job done.

Residents before party? Always. Decisions should stand up to public scrutiny, not just party approval.

Stoiana-Mois, Vlad Labour Party

I am standing for the new West Surrey Council to bring a modern, tech-driven perspective to local government. As a 30-year-old game developer who has called Guildford home for four years, I am passionate about using my skills to solve problems for the working class and those too often left behind by invisible bureaucracy.

The two biggest issues in our ward are connectivity and infrastructure reliability. I will implement a ‘Mobile Signal Action Plan,’ opening public buildings for 5G masts to eliminate frustrating dead zones. I will also fight for better public illumination and accessible restroom facilities, ensuring our new unitary system delivers directly to residents rather than hiding behind layers of redundant red tape.

I give my word: I will always put our residents’ interests before those of my party. My persistence and background in technology are focused on one goal: making Guildford South West a more connected, accessible, and accountable place to live.

Whitehouse, Clare Green Party

I believe democratic representation at the local level is able to change our day-to-day lives and improve the areas we live, work and enjoy ourselves in.

Residents most frequently talk about the poor quality of our roads and pavements: potholes, parking, public transport, traffic congestion, cycling, and messy and uneven pavements. I would talk to residents to find out their priorities on these topics. Then try to identify new ways of tackling these challenges, followed by working within the new council to take action on residents’ views.

Residents’ second concern was the consequences of local government reform: debt and responsiveness to the community’s needs. I would push to bring services back in-house to save money and also to protect community assets, especially recreational green spaces, that are valued by residents from being sold off.

Green councillors are expected to listen to their residents and represent their views, not to always follow a party line. I can promise to put resident’s interests before those of the Green Party.

Whiting, Charles Reform – Changing Politics for Good

I have lived in Guildford most of my life and I am standing because I want a council that’s easier to deal with and more responsive to our residents’ needs.

I am deeply invested in our community and believe that “all it takes for evil to flourish is for good men to do nothing”.

Residents want accessible services, better local upkeep, and significantly less bureaucracy. I will push for simpler systems and more responsive local services. I am committed to fighting for a Dog Warden, a Park Keeper, and a Pothole Tsar – people who you can actually contact directly, while working to preserve our countryside and limiting council tax rises by cutting waste.

Residents before party? Yes. Common sense tends to beat party lines in the end.