Reddish South: Liz Crix
Liz helping with tree planting in Reddish Vale
I first became Councillor Liz Crix on Stockport Council in 2022.
Gary Lawson was elected Stockport’s first Green Party councillor in 2021, and I was very involved in his election campaign. Being involved in Gary’s campaign and wanting to build on his success inspired me to step up in 2022. This was huge for me. I’d joined the Green Party only a couple of years earlier when, living in a “target ward”, I was immediately contacted by the then campaign manager, Carolyn Leather, asking me to volunteer. I began by delivering newsletters, and it snowballed from there!
Seeing my name emblazoned on bright green posters in people’s front windows was surreal! Labour opposition was powerful, but conversations on the doorstep reassured me that I had a strong chance of being elected. I was calm on election day and at the count, knowing that the green team and I had done all we could. As the count neared its conclusion, the signs pointed to my having won by a comfortable margin, with this soon officially confirmed. It was a powerful and humbling experience, knowing that it wasn’t just I who had won, but all of us together.
Due to ward boundary changes, it was only a year before I had to stand again, along with Gary Lawson and our new candidate James Frizzell. By that time, Evelyn Leslie had become campaign manager. Again, we had good indications for success. But we weren’t expecting the decisive win that became obvious as trays containing Green Party votes towered over those of the Labour opposition! I gained a 4-year term by winning more votes than Gary or James.
Getting elected is very demanding, but if electioneering is humbling, being a councillor is more so. The times you can help people are great and satisfying, whether you receive their thanks or not. When you can’t provide the help they request, some people will be understanding, but others will tell you exactly what they think. I’ve encountered little outright aggression (largely by avoiding community social media sites as much as possible), and I mostly manage not to take robust opinions personally. I’ve also received praise for things I didn’t know I did! It’s good to be involved with local community groups and welcomed with a hug at the fantastic Heaton Norris Community Centre.
Councillors receive support from very experienced and skilled council officers. They are privileged to be on first-name terms with the Leader of the Council, the Chief Executive, the Mayor, etc. But if you start to think that you are any more important than any resident you serve, you’re in for a fall! I don’t think anyone does this job to boost their ego.
I’m not a great talker at council or committees and am in awe of councillors who articulate their points so well, throwing in the odd joke or two. I have asked important questions at council meetings, seconded a motion on Biodiversity Loss, and proposed a motion on Flooding Preparedness. I’ve been instrumental in the creation of a wildlife pond in Reddish Vale, and there are a smattering of new road signs, bollards, road markings, dropped kerbs, and bins that I can claim credit for (glamourous, eh?) not to mention two mature trees that I helped save from felling. I have started conversations with the council arborist about improved tree planting in our ward over the coming year. These can be added to numerous unseen achievements on behalf of Reddish South residents.
I’ve been invited to become a governor of a local primary school. Another very new challenge for me that I hope to perform well.
Liz Crix (April 2025)
Reddish South: Gary Lawson
Reddish South: James Frizzell