Sean Wharton is Labour’s candidate in this Thursday’s by-election for a Torfaen County Borough Council seat in the Llantarnam Ward of Cwmbran.
Cwmbran Life offered candidates the chance to write a piece about why residents should vote for them.
Sean wrote: “I am incredibly proud to have been selected as your Labour candidate and to have the opportuntiy to represent this great community.
“My roots in the ward of Llantarnam stretch far back. In my sporting heyday, as a professional footballer, I had the privilege of putting on the Cwmbran Town strip and playing week in week out at our local Cwmbran Stadium. We won the 1992/93 Welsh Premier League title on that pitch, and the memories I forged in that ground and on that turf – both as a player and later as a manager – will stay with me forever.
“I left that world with a heavy heart but an earnest sense of connection to this ward. But I wanted a new challenge and a new direction, so I turned my focus to supporting local kids. My wife Joanna and I have been foster parents for over 25 years, and I know first hand the profound value and importance of a stable, secure and loving upbringing.
“Now, along with Joanna, I own and run a local playgroup in Llantarnam, which provides high quality childcare for families in the ward and beyond. Being able to provide this kind of support brings me enormous joy, and I am proud everyday of the work we do to support the local community.
“That commitment to supporting and connecting with others is fundamental to me. I was born to Windrush generation parents, and I’ve seen just how difficult it can be to overcome barriers and adversity. I know the emotional and structural damage that can be inflicted by discrimination, and I’ve felt the weight of it personally too. But rather than be defined by those experiences, I’ve used them. I now work with No Boundaries Training & Consultancy to educate and inspire young people in schools, colleges and communities to help them believe in themselves and the bright future they deserve to achieve.
“I also chair the Football Association of Wales’ Equality, Diversity and Integrity Steering Group because I want to make sure that this wonderful sport that gave me so much in my youth can do the same for others.
“It’s become clear to me from my conversations on the doorstep that we all want the same thing in Llantarnam: an end to the negativity and division that is driving a wedge between neighbours and splintering our sense of community. As our wider world becomes more threatening, we are all – myself included – just looking for a bit of hope and positivity, and for our community to come together once again.
“I know this is possible. I love Llantarnam, and I know so many of us in this commnuity do too. We all have our part to play in making it a great place to live and work again, and if I am elected, I will make sure you have a councillor that plays their part too. Because these local elections are about who you feel you can turn to when you need help, whether that’s fixing a pothole outside your door or helping you navigate the social care system for a loved one. I would be honoured to be that person; to have your vote and your trust. And I will work tirelessly to bring the out the best in the people and the places that make up this great community.”
Sean Wharton, Labour candidate for Llantarnam