Test Valley election candidates profiles – Andover St Mary’s

These are the candidates and their own words as to why they are standing.

Andover St Mary’s Ward

Iris Anita Andersen (Local Conservatives)

Iris lives in Andover and has six children, who went to local schools from infants to secondary school. She is also a grandmother so she appreciates how difficult things can be in bringing children up in this modern society. Iris has worked at Andover hospital for many years. Iris is passionate about the community in which she lives and has been their voice, fighting for the people of Andover St Mary’s for many years. She believes our young generation, growing up now, are a priority and works hard to support young carers and people in her ward.

Katherine Anne Bird (Liberal Democrats)

I have been working in the community and actively supporting Andover for nearly 15 years, including arranging for defibrillators to be installed in and around the town, crowd-sourcing funds to have six First World War commemorative benches for the town, running Andover’s Youth Festival, setting up the Andover Breastfeeding Welcome Scheme, and Refill Andover, and successfully campaigning to keep the Andover Birth Centre open.

Alongside being a trustee of two Andover charities, and running a third Andover charity, which supports residents in need, I was a local councillor for nine years. I worked with school governors for seven years and was a Pride of Andover finalist, I also have two children born and raised in Andover.

Andrew John Briggs (Liberal Democrats)

Andy Briggs is a lifelong Test Valley resident who is passionate about bringing about positive change in people’s lives. A Liberal Democrat since 2016, Andy wants to see Test Valley become a more inclusive place for all that live here. He feels that the Conservatives have taken too many residents for granted and forgotten about their concerns. If elected, Andy would be a fresh voice for our area, and would bring with him years of experience both working with other councillors and council officers, and a strong academic understanding of public policy and how it shapes people’s lives.

Jan Franciszek Budzynski (Local Conservatives)

Jan has lived in Andover for 37 years and served on TVBC for 11 years representing Andover wards. He lives with his wife Annette and their two cats in the town. Jan is passionate about open spaces, both urban and rural and makes full use of them. His specialties are licensing and planning and he currently chairs the northern planning committee. The achievement he is most proud of is chairing the committee that approved a crematorium for Andover saving the strain of travelling to distant sites.

Debbie Cattell (Local Conservatives)

Debbie lives in Andover having moved here over 20 years ago and is passionate about actively representing the community in which she lives. She has retired from a senior role in the housing sector where she advocated for tenants with housing associations. She is a former school governor and has also worked in customer services. She hopes to bring all that experience to her role if elected, and in particular is determined to give local residents a voice in the council.

Judith Elizabeth Cole (Labour Party)

Judith is determined to ensure that Andover is a town we can all be proud to call home –vibrant, sustainable and caring. She will focus on making our streets safer and ensuring that potholes and paths get fixed (and stay fixed). Better housing and the reintroduction of proper council housing to bring down waiting lists is a key priority for her. Judith’s background spans public, private and charity sectors. She chairs a large Andover-based mental health charity and is a trustee of a local community land trust seeking to develop decent affordable housing solutions. She loves dogs and dances Argentine Tango.

Andrew David Fitchet (Labour Party)

I’m standing in St Mary’s because it is where I grew up, where I work as a minister, where my son is at school and is the heartbeat of Andover. We know that Andover is not reaching its full potential. We need strong voices to push for better. Better roads and paths, affordable housing, proper council housing again, a redeveloped town centre – a better future for Andover. As a previous St Mary’s councillor, I achieved some of these things, with your vote, we can do even more together. I came second in 2021, let’s make it first in 2023!

Peter Alan Hurst (Liberal Democrats)

I am an experienced Liberal Democrat Test Valley councillor. I served for eight years representing the Tadburn Ward in Romsey becoming the leader of the Test Valley Liberal Democrat Group. I was also a Romsey Town councillor and served as Mayor of Romsey.

I am a retired Ministry of Defence civil servant and worked at the Army HQ in Andover for six years when the Army Supply Chain HQ was based there. Before that, I served in the Army Land HQ for four years when it was based in Wilton before its move to Andover. I deployed operationally in the First Gulf War and the Kosovo Crisis.

I have worked in public finance for most of my life and during my time on Test Valley I closely shadowed the cabinet member for finance and resources. I argued that Test Valley had too much money held in reserve and that council tax should not be increased until the reserve level was reduced to a more sustainable level.

I am currently the chair of the Romsey Branch of the Royal British Legion which is a focal point for Remembrance and Veteran Welfare in Romsey. I am also treasurer of Romsey Beekeepers and treasurer elect of Romsey Rotary. My wife and I are volunteers with the Hearing Dogs for Deaf People charity, and we are currently taking a break from socialising puppies for the charity. I am currently studying for a postgraduate degree in mathematics with the Open University.

Stuart George Waue (Independent)

I’ve lived in Andover my whole life and have seen many changes. Two years ago I put myself up for election to Andover Town Council and managed to win a seat over an established political party member.

I’m very proud that others have decided to follow my example to get more regular people involved in local politics rather than leaving it to political parties.

If elected I will push for better enforcement of the Public Spaces Protection Order to reduce anti-social behaviour, try to encourage businesses to move into the town centre and ensure that the upcoming BID vote is decided by local businesses, rather than the local authority.

READ MORE: Test Valley candidates in Bellinger, Blackwater and Bourne Valley

SEE ALSO: Test Valley election candidates in Ampfield & Braishfield and Andover Downlands