Dorking - Stephen Cooksey

Stephen is one of the longest serving Councillors in the country with experience of membership of five different Councils at all levels since his first election in 1972. He was elected to Mole Valley District Council to represent Dorking South in 1992 and has since been re-elected on eight subsequent occasions. 

He was elected to represent Dorking South and the Holmwoods on Surrey County Council in 2005 and has been re-elected on four subsequent occasions. On the County Council his primary interests are Community enhancement, Financial control, Environment and Highways. 

Stephen was elected as Leader of Mole Valley District Council in 2019, a position that he currently holds. In the almost 6 years that he has led Mole Valley, the culture of the Council has changed significantly as the Council has become much more effective, efficient, caring, and capable of delivering excellent services under stringent financial controls.

Given recent Liberal Democrat success across Surrey he is hopeful that the County Council elections will see the end of Conservative control which has produced poor performance in all major services. He is excited at the prospect of using his experience to help transform the County into a high performing Council delivering first-class and cost- effective services.

The new Dorking electoral division provides an opportunity for the community to be represented as a unit for the first time which will help Stephen, if he is elected, to prioritise the facilities and services that the whole town needs to ensure its future as a jewel in the Surrey crown.