In 2002 Stuart Drummond stood as H'Angus the Monkey

Stuart Drummond will once again seek election to the post he won in 2002, when he stood as H'Angus the Monkey, the local football team's mascot.

He will be challenged by Labour, Conservative, and independent candidates. The Liberal Democrats are not putting anyone forward.

The election is taking place on 5 May, the same day as the general election.

Brenda Pearson is the Conservative candidate and Carl Richardson is standing for Labour.

HARTLEPOOL MAYORAL CANDIDATES Stephen Allison (Local Man, Local Issues, Hartlepool First) Ian Cameron (Independent) Stuart Drummond (Independent) Stan Kaiser John Lauderdale (Independent) Brenda Pearson (Conservative) Carl Richardson (Labour)

Ian Cameron and John Lauderdale are independent candidates.

Stephen Allison is standing as Local Man, Local Issues, Hartlepool First, and Stan Kaiser is standing as himself.

Existing mayor, Stuart Drummond is also an independent.

In 2002 he won with a 52% share of the vote and a turnout of 30%.

Voting will be conducted on the supplementary voting system. If a candidate polls more than half the vote he or she will be declared elected.

If no-one polls more than 50%, all candidates except those in first and second place will be eliminated from the race and their votes redistributed in accordance with the second choices of their supporters.

The winner of this second round will then be declared elected.