Levene victorious
Leven enjoys his election victory. Image Credit: Alexander Prowse
David Levene continued the sweeping gains for Labour by winning in Heslington. “It’s all still sinking in really but it was a fantastic result, to have a (Council) majority of five is a fantastic achievement for Labour,” he told Nouse on the night.
When quizzed about his campaign on campus, Levene replied: “Obviously students make up a very large part of the ward. I’d like to thank all students who voted for me, it wouldn’t have been possible without them”.
Having a big presence on campus on the day of the election Levene acknowledges was a great benefit, marked most notably with a large placard on Vanbrugh bridge. Campaigning for a Council election on campus however was riddled with obstructions.
“Turnout is a long standing issue but it was still an improvement on 2007, if only slightly, and also we found during the campaign that students were interested in politics.
“But often it was quite difficult to get to students because accommodation blocks were locked down and it is not very easy to get in touch with students through the post. These are all issues we want to tackle in the next few years”.
Levene’s background of being a former Union Council chair, and a candidate in the 2009 YUSU Presidential elections, gave clout to his campaign on campus. “I believe because of this, students felt they could have the confidence in me and that I would represent them well.”
Levene is not the first York alumnus to become a York councillor. He laughed off future aspirations of parliament, not knowing what the long term future held.
“At the moment my only interest is my job here, our Labour election manifesto was quite ambitious to achieve, so it’s just getting straight to work really, no time to rest.
“In five years time I’ve absolutely no idea where I’ll be, but I hope to have done a good job in Heslington.”
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