STU FOR COUNCIL

The Colin Brewer scandal has had an unexpected and positive result – Cornwall may get its first blind councillor at the next election.

Stuart Williams from Redruth, who founded Redruth Radio, was so outraged by Colin Brewers’ tasteless remarks about disabled children being ‘put down’ he had a change of heart on running for local election in May.

The 38 year old community activist, who was born and bred in Redruth and went to Redruth school, explained: “I felt intensely annoyed when I heard what Colin Brewer said.

“It was unbelievable.I assume he’s just been bumbling around for 26 years and after a while you just start resting on your laurels don’t you?

“Anyway the whole episode has made me all the more determined to run for council; I was considering it, and wondering whether it might be better to stay outside of the system.

“But now I’m thinking again. I run Redruth Radio which is a community project and I’d try to be a breath of fresh air on the council.”

Stuart was a director of Disability Cornwall and says he was ‘all the more offended’ for knowing the people Cllr Brewer had lashed out at.

He explained: “They run an information and advice service for people – welfare advice, and they do a lot of campaigning for fair legislation for disabled people.

“Most of the board are disabled themselves – that’s their key feature. They’re an admirable outfit. And I think Colin Brewer represents an out of touch local councillor.”

“If you are a councillor it comes with some responsibility to watch what you say. I’m very un-politically correct, but what he said wasn’t un-PC it was just an offensive comment, and as a public figure with authority he should watch what he says.”

Stuart can’t run against Colin Brewer in Wadebridge as he hails from Redruth, but he hopes to fill the independent seat which pundits reckon next year will be vacated by the elderly foot-in-mouth merchant.

Stuart’s own disability turned his life around at the age of 30.

He was born sighted but left blind after an operation. Since losing his sight, and after taking around two years to re-adapt to life, he’s campaigned tirelessly for charity and the local community.

In his spare time Stuart DJs as ‘DJ Retina’ - Cornwall’s ‘only blind DJ’ – an accolade of which he jokes ‘If there are any others – then I haven’t seen them!’

Stuart explained; “I would stand as an independent. I like to think I’m in tune with all of the local community, and represent something different from the old school of local politicians.”

He broke the news to fans and followers on Facebook saying; “As a disabled person I feel it might give a big finger to those that think they can sit on their biggoted backsides and continue to think that just because they have served over 20 years as a councillor that it gives them some sort of indication that they are automatically doing a good job…

“After all – “The mind of a bigot is like the pupil of the eye; the more light you pour upon it, the more it will contract.”

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Posted by admin on February 27, 2013. Filed under Today's Top Cornish Stories. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry