In the run up to the Stroud District Council elections on May 5, the SNJ will be profiling each of the candidates standing in all 27 wards.

Each party candidate will give voters information about who they are, what their pledges are and why you should vote for them.

These profiles will be posted alphabetically by ward over the next week.

Today we feature Kingswood, Minchinhampton, Nailsworth, Painswick and Upton, Randwick, Whiteshill and Ruscombe and Rodborough.

Look back at previous articles throughout the week for wards A-H.

Stay posted to see your candidates go head to head.

Painswick and Upton - There are six candidates standing in this ward. Number of seats – three.

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  • Richard Ford - UKIP

Richard is a 56 year old businessman who has been a resident of Painswick since 1992. In fact he is the only actual resident of Painswick standing in the ward in this election.

Richard vigorously opposes the monopoly of power by just one party in the Painswick and Upton ward, and believes that this is unhealthy for democracy as the Conservative Party in the ward is dictated to by Conservatives both at Shire Hall and in Westminster.

An example of this is the lack of protest and influence local by elected representatives in respect of the recent closure of Painswick Fire Station and the state of the roads in the district.

If elected as UKIP councillor for Painswick and Upton Richard will ensure that he represents the views of the people of the district rather than those of the party.

Richard is an Honours Graduate in Law of the University of Durham, speaks five languages and would like to bring his experience of building a business from start up to £76 million turnover, winning the Gloucestershire Business of the Year Award, and being a major local employer to the council.

He stood as UKIP parliamentary candidate for Gloucester in last year's General Election.

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  • Keith Pearson – Conservative

A Stroud Councillor for some nine years for Upton St Leonards and currently Leader of the Conservative Group I am now one of three Conservatives standing for the newly formed and enlarged Painswick Ward.

Originally from the South East, but have now lived in Upton St Leonards since 1986. Married to Ann, we have two grown up children, both educated locally; I worked in marketing for nearly thirty years.

A governor of Ribston Hall High School for 17 years, I took early retirement in 1998 and since then have been very active within the community, joining the Parish Council 16 years ago of which I am currently Chairman.

I believe passionately about retaining a rural ethos in our area and am fighting hard to get a reduction in the M5 motorway noise that is blighting the life of our local people.

I firmly believe that as a councillor I should ensure that I work for everyone in the District and represent the people of new Painswick Ward to the very best of my ability.

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  • Julie Job – Conservative

I was born and brought up in Painswick and attended Archway School and Stroud college.

After leaving school I worked in the Magistrates ' Court in Stroud for 14 years.

In 1986 my husband David and I moved to Cranham where we successfully ran the Black Horse Inn for almost 25 years. I still live in Cranham where I am actively involved with village events and organisations.

I am pleased to say I am currently a serving councillor for the Painswick Ward which has now been enlarged to include Upton St Leonards and its surrounding area.

Living in a rural community I am aware of the problems of social isolation etc. faced by some parishioners and have been working with businesses and organisations to help address some of these problems.

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  • Nigel Cooper – Conservative

My priorities at the Council will be finance, planning and the environment Funding for Local Authorities from central government is reducing. It is therefore vital that the council is run efficiently, waste is eliminated, and unnecessary expenses stopped.

Only the Conservatives will face up to the situation and make those tough decisions that the current Labour lead administration has avoided.

On planning we must guard against any inappropriate development and protect the countryside for future generations.

The new waste and recycling scheme being introduced has not been properly thought through. It’s just not right that some residents needs have been ignored.

The Conservatives will work hard to represent all residents’ views are listened to and acted upon.

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  • Peter Adams – Green Party

Peter Adams is the owner of Stroud Natural Health Clinic and a Registered Homeopath.

He is now semi-retired so he has more than just work to keep him busy. He is standing for the Green Party because he believes it is the only party that is ready to tackle all the big issues of our times - the economic crisis, refugees, austerity and inequality, and, of course an environmental crisis which is only just beginning.

Many of us are lucky enough to be unaffected so far by these problems, but we are all challenged to face up to what is happening.

The Greens have policies covering the whole political agenda. Radical action is needed on climate change and other crucial environmental challenges, and the Green Party is clearly leading the way on these issues.

What is needed is the rise of The Greens, a party of the environment and of social and economic justice and compassion.

We need a government which will lead the way in investing in green technology. By creating green growth this will solve our environmental and economic problems at the same time, and create new sustainable economic system that can carry is into a future fit for our children and our grandchildren.

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  • Sarah Madley - Labour

Sarah worked for Labour MP David Drew in his constituency office in Stroud in 2010 and then for a recycling company in Stonehouse.

She now works in Gloucester for a national charity.

She is particularly concerned about the shortage of good quality affordable homes in the district.

Living in a rural area, she is aware of the problems facing village shops and small schools and is concerned about the impact of the lack of public transport.

In her spare time, Sarah enjoys walking, reading and going to watch rugby.