Cllr Daniel James has lived in Freshwater for 21 years, having married into a local family. He was elected as a Green Party parish councillor in 2017 and is currently vice-chair of Freshwater Parish Council.
Daniel narrowly missed being elected as the County Councillor for Freshwater North in 2017, receiving 43% of the vote, which was the second highest vote for a Green in that election on the Island. In 2021 he is standing against just one other candidate in the new Freshwater North and Yarmouth ward.
His proudest moment as a local councillor was taking part in the community campaign to retain a primary school in the West Wight’s largest village. Daniel has also campaigned to improve beach safety at Colwell Bay, and helped save a World War II lookout tower overlooking Fort Albert from demolition.
Daniel’s priorities if elected as a County Councillor will include addressing the lack of well-paid, year-round employment in the West Wight which has driven many families out of the area, and meeting local housing need with new solutions that respect our green fields and countryside.