In Harrogate Borough, 77 candidates are vying for 21 seats in the new unitary authority that will usher North Yorkshire into a new era of local government after elections on May 5.

This is the first time since 1974 that the councils have been reorganized locally.

And elected officials will have a say in how key services, including planning and social care, are run by the new unitary authority which will replace existing county and district councils in April 2023.

Here are your candidates for Harrogate District:

Paul Steven Haslam, curators

Deborah Anne Havercroft, Labor Party

Andrew Graham Kempston-Parkes, Liberal Democrat

Bilton Grange and New Park

Matthew Robert Scott, Curators

Monika Slater, Liberal Democrat

Tamsin Jade Worrall, Green Party

Andrew Morris Zigmond, Labor Party

Andy Bell, Liberal Democrat

Noel Frank Evans, Independent

Clark Pearson, Green Party

Robert Windass, curators

Patricia Ann Foxall, Labor Party

Peter Charles Lacey, Liberal Democrat

Leighton Anunda Regayre, Green Party

Graham Kevin Swift, Curators

Daniel Jonathan James d`Arcy Thompson, Independent

Philip Anthony Broadbank, Liberal Democrat

Gordon Schallmo, Green Party

Christopher John Watt, Labor Party

John Charles Adams, Labor Party

Sarah Jane Hart, Independent

Steven Jackson, curators

Andrew Rickard, Green Party

Mike Schofield, Liberal Democrats

High Harrogate and Kingsley

Chris Aldred, Liberal Democrat

Geoffrey Ronald David Foxall, Labor Party

Killinghall, Hampsthwaite and Saltergate

Edward Charles Clayson, Labor Party

David Ryland Goode, Liberal Democrat

Michael Harrison, curators

Sharon-Theresa Calvert, Labor Party

Ed Darling, curators

Hannah Gostlow, Liberal Democrat

David Tom Crosthwaite, Labor Party

Phil Ireland, Curators

Matt Walker, Liberal Democrats

Margaret Edna Atkinson, Curators

Felicity Clare Cunliffe-Lister, Independent

Judith Mary Hooper, Liberal Democrat

Justin James Peter Chan, Liberal Democrat

Gillian Rosemary Charters, Green Party

Margaret Smith, Labor Party

Richard Musgrave, Curators

Arnold Francis Warneken, Green Party

Pateley Bridge and Nidderdale

Alison Harris, Yorkshire Party

Stanley Lumley, curators

Andrew James Murday, Liberal Democrat

Ripon Minster and Moorside

Thomas James Averre, curators

Tom Cavell-Taylor, Liberal Democrat

Andrew Williams, Independent

Barbara Jean Brodigan, Liberal Democrat

Robin John Burgess, Green Party

Mike Chambers, curators

Spofforth with Lower Wharfedale and Tockwith

John Philip Hall, Yorkshire party

Alexandra Graham Marsh, Green Party

Andy Paraskos, curators

Stray, Woodlands and Hookstone

Helen Burke, Labor Party

John Radcliffe Ennis, Curators

Pat Marsh, Liberal Democrat

Anna Rosanna McIntee, Independent

Valley Gardens and Harrogate Center

Lucy Jayne Gardiner, Independent

David Johnson, Liberal Democrats

Paul Ko Ferrigno, Green Party

Andrew Williamson, Labor Party

Ian Roger Galloway, Independent

Nathan Roger Hull, curators

Paul Geoffrey Trewhitt, Green Party

Tom Watson, Liberal Democrat

Wathvale and Bishop Monkton

Nick Brown, Curators

Hannah Katherine Corlett, Green Party

Chris Knight, Liberal Democrat

A total of 90 councilors will be elected to represent 89 new divisions across North Yorkshire.

They will serve a year with North Yorkshire County Council before moving to the new unitary authority for a four-year term.

The deadline for registering to vote is April 14 – and those who are already registered to vote must have received a voter card or letter in the last two weeks of March.

Polling stations will open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on May 5.

Those who cannot vote in person can request to vote by mail or by proxy.

For more information go to www.harrogate.gov.uk/voting-elections/county-elections

By Jacob Webster, Local Democracy Journalist