Our County Council Team

Kevin West

County Council Candidate for Lewes

Kevin, and his family, have been living in Lewes for nearly 20 years. He has served as town councillor for the past two years, and has been campaigning on local issues since 2017. He has thrown himself into numerous community events like litter-picking. Kevin is passionate about supporting our local businesses and is currently campaigning to return the tourist information office to the High Street and create a banking hub for Lewes. Kevin's goal is to keep Lewes a calm, beautiful, and wonderful place to live, work and visit. His plan are to fix the roads and pavements in Lewes, to be sensible around financial management after the Conservative County Waste, and he is a local champion who listens, advocates and works for you. 

Lesley Boniface

County Council Candidate for Newhaven South and Bishopstone

Lesley has been serving the local Newhaven community since 2019. She was elected as Newhaven Town Councillor in 2019 and has been Town Mayor from 2021 until 2022. Since being elected into the Lewes District Council in 2023, she has since relentlessly campaigned to protect green spaces, improve road safety, as well provide support for youth initiatives and community groups across the Havens. Lesley has been a strong advocate for the protection of local green spaces, saving Riverside Park from development. She has also worked on road safety and traffic improvements, which include campaigning for changes at the Bishopstone junction and along the A259 as well as the Lewes Road.

Sarah Osborne 

County Council Candidate for Ouse Valley West and South Downs

For the past 18 years, Sarah has been representing the communities of Ouse Valley and South Downs at the East Sussex County Council, East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, as well as nationally as Deputy Chair at the Local Government Association. She has lived in the surrounding area for over 40 years and has served her community as a school governor and as a volunteer and trustee for a family support charity. Sarah has also co-founded county wide counselling services for those who have been affected by substance misuse and one for survivors of domestic abuse. As well as this, she has had a successful career in business and now currently works as a psychotherapist in which she provides counselling, executive and leadership counselling. Sarah has been nominated twice for the ‘Community Champion of the year’ award - the first time was for a campaign to save school transport and the second nomination was from charities and blue light services for her work to get 20 mph speed limit's in residential areas.  

Carolyn Lambert

County Council Candidate for Seaford South 

Carolyn Lambert has been serving her community in Seaford as a Councillor for over 17 years. Before becoming Councillor, she served as the Mayor of Seaford for 1 year between 2008 and 2009. Over her many years of service, she has become well known in and around her community as being an active and approachable Councillor. Carolyn is quick and keen to address residents' concerns and keeps people informed about the local happenings through her monthly newsletter, which reaches residents all across Seaford. Her newsletter is known for being factually accurate and providing the information people ask for. She believes in finding practical solutions to the concerns brought to her.  She has been involved in local governance roles. An example of which was the chair of Lewes District Council from 2010 until 2012. 

Jane Reeves 

County Council Candidate for Seaford North. 

Jane has lived in Seaford since 2005 and is deeply involved in the community. This includes founding the Archway Choirs here in 2009. With a master’s in community music, Jane is passionate about bringing local people together for common causes, and her approach has been working successfully for nearly 20 years. She’s excited to bring her energy and experience into making Seaford an even friendlier and better-supported place to live. Despite there having been many changes, but Jane believes that by working together, we can keep Seaford a safe and wonderful town for its residents. Jane has joined our local MP James MacCleary in pushing for an upgrade to the GP site - Seaford Health Centre. She is also encouraging the District Council as well as health authorities to take action.

Dr Janet Baah

County Council Candidate for Ringmer and Lewes Bridge

Councillor Dr Janet Baah is an experienced civic leader and community advocate with a strong record of public service in local government, health, education, and the voluntary sector. She holds a PhD in International Education and Development and a Master of Public Administration. Janet made history as the first Black Mayor of Lewes and one of the few women to hold the role. She currently serves as a Lewes District and Town Councillor and chairs the Lewes District Council’s Emergency Climate Change Scrutiny Panel, keeping the administration accountable. She is also an NHS Governor for the Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust, Chair of the Lewes District Anti-Racist Alliance, and a secondary school governor. Janet founded Manna Nexus, a youth development organization working with industries, the University of Sussex, and schools to support under-represented young people, including running employment pathway programs across East Sussex to help them secure jobs.

Dionne Daniel

County Council Candidate for Willingdon and South Downs Villages

Dionne is running to make sure residents of Willingdon and nearby villages get fair access to the same services as other areas. A long-time local, she serves as a parish councillor and is dedicated to representing the community’s voice. With decades of experience as an NHS nurse, including at Eastbourne DGH, she has also volunteered with several charities. She’s teaming up with local Liberal Democrat MP James MacCleary to strengthen the voice of Willingdon and its rural areas. James has been instrumental in advancing plans for a new health centre in Willingdon, securing the facilities needed for the future of local NHS services. Working together with James and the East Sussex Liberal Democrat team, Dionne is focused on delivering real, lasting change for Willingdon and its villages.

Katrina Best 

County Candidate for Polegate and WaterMill 

Katrina Best has been a proud member of the local community for many years and is very passionate about making sure that the residents receive the support and opportunities that they deserve. She is committed to being a strong voice for the community, as she will be working alongside/closely with James MacCleary to ensure that the communities voices are heard as well as protecting vital services. Keen to build on James's work in progressing the new health centre for Polegate, Katrina is dedicated to improving local infrastructure and strengthening community support. As part of the East Sussex Liberal Democrats, she believes in growing a community where people look out for one another feel heard, and benefit from meaningful, useful and positive change. 

Mark Fairweather

County Council Candidate for Pevensey and Stone Cross

Mark Fairweather has lived in the area for many years, and cares deeply about protecting the environment and local green spaces. Mark is currently serving as a District Councillor and has worked really hard to make a difference locally - He has managed to secure the repair of potholes and trip hazards, tackled fly tipping and improved community facilities. He has also played a key role in freezing council tax this year to support residents through the cost of living crisis. Mark has successfully tackled fly tipping hotspots and has successfully opposed the inappropriate development at sites such as Peeling Lane. With a background in teaching, he is very passionate about supporting young people and making sure nobody is left behind. Mark is very committed to listening to residents, delivering value for money and being a strong active voice for the community. If he is elected as county councillor he would back the scraping the unpopular tip booking system which thousands of pole have opposed for its inconvenience, increased bureaucracy and risk of increased fly tipping. 

Jo Pettitt 

District Council Candidate for Newhaven South

Jo Pettitt has been a committed advocate for Newhaven since 2012, taking a leading role in campaigns to protect and enhance the local area. She played a key part in safeguarding Riverside Park as a valued green space and led the successful “Stop the Slops” campaign. Jo has also been a strong supporter of road safety measures and has worked to oppose proposals to absorb Newhaven into Brighton and Hove City Council, standing firmly against annexation plans affecting the town. Having grown up locally, she is proud to serve and represent her community.

James Harrison 

District Council Candidate for Newhaven South

James is a proactive and energetic councillor who brings real positivity to Newhaven and its future. James joined Newhaven Town Council in 2024 and is an active member of the local community. He is currently serving as a town councillor and is now running for district council. He has played a key role in leading the council’s response to proposals to absorb Newhaven into Brighton and Hove City Council. James has supported a wide range of community events, worked to improve council communications and transparency, and continues to assist residents with local issues across the town. He has been a driving force behind the ambition to make Newhaven the UK’s first ‘Town of Culture’. Alongside this, he has focused on making the council more open, responsive, and centred on the needs of residents.