Is Cllr Mike running?

The burning issue on the lips of a number of politico's, journalists and associated hangers-on this week is whether Cllr Mike O'Brien; the multititular man of many roles still has his hat in the running for the Kent Police Commissioner role.

Cllr OBrien had been spending a number of weeks gallivanting around the weald of Kent shaking hands with the be-suited great and the good from Ashford, Sevenoaks and beyond. It was billed as 'Fact Finding' meetings with the other Community Safety Partnership Chair's and exchanging best practice; but to a casual observer it just so happened to coincide with his apparent declared status as a Police Commissioner candidate.

The joke at the time was that lesser spotted O'Brien was more likely to be seen in the Weald of Kent than the Rainham ‘flats’.

His posts of late have however been more closer to home; with the exception of explaining the Afghanistan transition to his Rainham audience more concerned about pot-holes, he has veered off policing onto other topics of interest; including his recent photographed visit during Holy Week to Rochester Cathedral which sits 3 miles from his ward and which, this blog suspects, he has attended on more than one occasion.

It is interesting to note the change in tone because leaks from one Tory camp indicate that Cllr O'Brien lost the RSCCA vote nomination for Commissioner to his leadership arch-nemesis; a vote our Mike needed to win to have credibility with Kent colleagues, and for his name to be touted for the Deputy role, should part-timer Tim 'The Colonel' Collins get the much coveted top-job.

The vote being lost means any such attempt to secure the Police Commissioner or Deputy title would result in two candidates from Medway Conservatives; little respected in the hallowed halls of Kent County Hall, despite all the faux bonhomie between the neighboring Tory run authorities.

The rumor mill was on overload last week within even yours truly being asked to give comment on any potential withdrawal.

I of course only get leaks from the Tory Group, who are at present, playing factional games on O&S posts and the coveted Education Portfolio which, as this blog understands, is under the leadership spotlight. The candidacy, or otherwise, of Cllr Mike is not a big item at present, so I could not pose a comment.

The public know the Tory factional splits run deep to the point of causing organizational inertia on decision-making which is why, despite all the observed hand-wringing of Cllr Chambers, its time for change.

Cllr Mike should do the sensible thing; instead of allowing the rumours and whispers to spread. He should either declare his nomination or say why he stepped back; letting the rumour mill swirl only makes him appear weak to events.

Its time to tell us whether this title is one too far.