LIB DEMS SELECT FORMER NAVAL WARRANT OFFICER FOR ST ENODER

12.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 16th Apr 2009

Former Royal Navy Warrant Officer and Lib Dem candidate for St Enoder Keith Wonnacott

Liberal Democrats in St Enoder have selected Keith Wonnacott to be the party's prospective candidate for the Cornwall Council elections on June 4th.

Keith Wonnacott spent 36 years serving in the Royal Navy, rising to the rank of Warrant Officer, before leaving the service and moving back to Cornwall.

In 2002 Keith played a key role in helping to recover HMS Nottingham after the ship grounded off Lord How Island, Australia. On leaving the Royal Navy, Keith was awarded the MBE for his services and returned to the family home, of 25 years, in St Stephen. Currently a parish councillor on St Stephen Parish Council, Keith now works teaching electrics and renewable energy at a local company.

Keith is married to Kim Wonnacott, also a Parish Councillor and the Lib Dem candidate for Cornwall Council for St Stephen, they have a daughter, Karen, who is studying Fine Art at Goldsmiths University, London. In his spare time he is an active member of the Tregargus Trust who are working to preserve a number of stone mills in the Tregargus Valley.

Keith Wonnacott said: "I'm delighted to be the Lib Dem candidate for St Enoder. Having been in the Navy I know that the only effective way to get something done is to work as part of a team. St Enoder needs more affordable homes for local people, new jobs, and across Cornwall we need to be taking the threat to our climate seriously. I hope to work with the local Parish Council to make sure we have a strong voice on the new Cornwall Council and by working with the Lib Dem team get the results that the area deserves."

Steve Gilbert, the prospective MP for St Austell & Newquay, said: "Keith is a real community campaigner and team player - he'd be a real asset to Cornwall Council."