Council Elections 2012 – Meet the candidates – David Walker
David Walker is standing as Labour candidate for Portobello/Craigmillar Ward.
He told The Reporter why he wants to be a councillor:-“I am a hardworking, enthusiastic professional worker with twenty years’ experience of voluntary work, community regeneration and the functions of local government. For sixteen of those twenty years I worked as a Project Manager with responsibility for fourteen members of staff and the day-to-day operations of a successful local charity. I was also one of the founder members of Craigmillar Credit Union and helped develop the Credit Union from a small savings club in the Thistle Foundation into a well-established and much used local service, with over a thousand members and over a quarter million pounds in assets.
I was also one of the founder members of Craigmillar Community Council and I went on to act as Secretary of the Community Council for more than seven years. Throughout this period of time I gained a significant understanding of the policies, procedures and practices of local government, including housing, planning, regeneration, licensing and much more. I have made representations to a number of different committees, including deputations to the Planning Committee, Full Council and even the Scottish Parliament Petitions Committee.
I have been a member of a trade union since I was sixteen years of age. This has included the National Union of Mineworkers, the Transport & General Workers and in more recent years, Unite. I am a strong supporter of the trade union movement and firm believer that Labour MPs, MSPs and Councillors need to start working more closely with the unions to defend the current Government’s savage attacks on public services, jobs and standards of living.
I believe I would make a very valuable and worthwhile contribution as a Labour Councillor. I have a proven track record of working in the community for the community and after more than twenty years of community work and regular engagement with the functions, practices and procedures of local government, I believe I am well prepared for the role of a City Councillor.
At a local level, I would work hard to bring social, economic and environmental improvements to the area I represent and ensure the best quality of service is available to the people living and working in the Ward. In my role as Councillor, I would hope to become a recognised leader within the area and someone that the community can turn to when problems arise or they need someone to speak on their behalf.
On a broader scale, I would hope to play an effective and influential role in the formulation of Labour Group strategy within the City and develop services and policies which reflect the values and principles of the Labour Party. I would work collectively with other members of the Group to establish a strong Labour team, which could offer effective representation to the City of Edinburgh and quality and best value services to its citizens.”
Contact details – davidwalker@edinburghlabour.com