AT the last local election in 2008, the number of Black and Minority Ethnic students at Grays School and Media Arts College stood at around 5%. Today, the number in Year 7 and 8 stands nearer 45%.
Suppose a 1000 of those parents lived in the ward of Grays Riverside. Suppose a candidate stood at the local election that crystallised all their hopes for a brighter future in the borough of Thurrock.
This is the challenge that faces prospective ward councillor for Grays Riverside, Michael Abodiun.
We have seen Michael out and about in the borough over the last year. At Black History month, at the Holocaust Memorial Service. He has a very smart web-site, a facebook site, twitter. He is on the internet but also on the doorstep.
Is there substance to what he says? Well, we interviewed Michael for over half an hour. Judge for yourself. We make no predictions but if I were the others, I would keep working harder but perhaps start working smarter.
We need more younger people within our council and i wish Michael all the very best in his run in the elections, I only hope that he can deliver on all he has stated in the interview and this is not just lip service to get him onto the council.
Oh and when Michael stated that Grays has changed in the past 10 years, he is not wrong, it has got progessively worse and things really need to start to change to get the spirit of the town back.
I would have said Michael Abodiun had a snowballs chance in hell as Grays Riverside is a traditional Labour ward and they would vote for a traffic cone if it wore a red rosette.
Unfortunately having seen the interview with Martin Healey I think Labour voters would want a traffic cone as it would be more use.
It is good to see an interview with someone who says what he wants and what he will do for the community for a change. We have had too many candidates saying what they are against.
Will Labour voters switch to Mr Abodiun rather than the Mr Healy? It will be an interesting competition in Grays Riverside..