`I HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF GOODWAGE!' TONY'S PLEDGE... I WILL Retired police inspector to take on Russell in elections.

Byline: Phillip Nifield Political & Business Editor

A RETIRED police chief inspector is launching a bid to unseat Russell Goodwa y.

Tony Davies is hoping to oust the council leader by standing as a councillor at next year's municipal elections.

He will stand as an independent ratepayer candidate in the Ely ward because, he says, he is fed up with the way Cardiff council is run by Mr Goodway.

The move could be the biggest test yet for the controversial leader.

Mr Davies, a 58yearold widower, said this year's 12 per cent hike in council tax was the final straw which prompted him to mount a challenge to the council leader. Mr Davies of Deepwood Close, Earlswood, St Fagans, said: ``I was born in Ely and lived in the area from the age of three to 13.

``I now live about 100 yards from the boundary of the ward, much closer than Mr Goodway (who lives in Barry). He is not a local man. I have seen a lot of things happening in the council which I have not been happy about.''

``The straw which broke the camel's back was the 12 per cent rise in council tax when I received an indexlinked rise in my police pension,'' he said. ``Then there's also been issues like Echogate and the rise in councillors' allowances. I've had enough of Goodwage.''

Mr Davies, who spent 30 years in the police, said he had no allegiance to any political party. He retired in 1996.

He said that he intended to make four pledges to voters in Ely if he was elected: # Would in his first two years as a councillor donate any expenses he receives, including travel payments, above the annual allowance for councillors, to the George Thomas Hospice.

# Would not vote for any increase in council tax above the rate of inflation. # Would not take any increase in his councillors' allowance above the rate of inflation.

# Would hold regular surgeries for constituencies Labour currently holds all three seats in Ely. In the 1999 elections Mr Goodway received the lowest number of votes of the Labour candidates at 1,452, but finished more than 700 votes ahead of the nearest challenger, a Liberal Democrat.

Russell Goodway was unavailable for comment this morning.

# Echo Comment - See Page 8WHO GETS YOUR VOTE?

Name: Tony Davies

Age: 58

Address: Deepwood Close, Earlswood, St Fagans.

Marital status: Widower

Career: Retired police chief inspector. Spent 30 years in the police force, mainly in Cardiff but also served in Uganda. Retired in 1996

Name: Russell Goodway

Age: 47 Address: Colcot Road, Barry Marital status: Married Susan Yvonne Witchard in 1979. One son, David Career: Elected member and first leader of Cardiff Council, 1995; chairman of the council's cabinet and council leader since 1995; partner, Keane Goodway and Co., accountants, 19882000; deputy chairman, Millennium Stadium plc, 1996

DAVIES GOODWAY

call 0901 561 5721

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call 0901 561 5722

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