 The Torbay area has an annual budget of �150m |
Fourteen people have thrown their hats into the ring in an attempt to become Torbay's first directly-elected mayor. The field of candidates was announced on Thursday afternoon following the close of nominations.
The three main parties have all put forward candidates, none of whom are existing group leaders at the council.
The Labour candidate is David Pedrick-Friend, the Conservative is Councillor Nick Bye, while the Liberal Democrat candidate is Nicholas Pannell.
October election
Two women are in the running: existing independent councillor Beverley Brennan and Susan Colley, also an independent.
The other candidates are Bob Brewis, who was heavily involved in the campaign to secure a mayoral election, Rob Crawford, James Grimble, Peter Middleton, James O'Dwyer, Gordon Oliver, existing councillor Ian Oxley, Julien Parrott, and Marshall Ritchie.
They are all standing as independents.
The resort voted in July to become the first in the South West to be led by a US-style directly-elected mayor.
The mayor is likely to be responsible for promoting significant policy changes as well as the budget which the rest of the council will scrutinise.
The election will be held in October and the post is expected to pay about �60,000 a year for an area which has an annual budget of �150m.
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