RYEDALE residents will have their chance to vote for the 'voice and champion' for the region's businesses and communities at a key election next week

Six candidates will fight it out on Thursday, May 2, to become the first-ever directly elected Mayor of the new York and North Yorkshire combined authority.

All four main political parties – Conservatives, Greens, Labour and Lib Dems – will be fielding candidates in the vote. But no-one from the Yorkshire Party will be standing.

The candidates are, in alphabetical order:

Felicity Cunliffe-Lister, Liberal Democrat – a Yorkshire businesswoman (and co-owner, with her husband Mark, of Swinton Park Hotel) and North Yorkshire unitary councillor for Masham and Fountains

Keane Duncan, Conservative – a former leader of Ryedale District Council from May 2019 to February 2021. He became the council leader at 24, making him the youngest council leader in the country at the time

Kevin Foster, Green - the North Yorkshire unitary councillor for Hipswell & Colburn and a former civil servant who also served more than 30 years in the Armed Forces Reserves

Paul Haslam, independent – the North Yorkshire unitary councillor for Bilton & Nidd Gorge and the council’s climate change champion

David Skaith, Labour – A York businessman (owner of Winstons of York clothing retailer) and former chair of York High Street Forum

Keith Tordoff, independent – a one-time Leeds police officer turned businessman (he owns a sweet shop in Pateley Bridge) and former chairman of Nidderdale Chamber of Trade, who was made an MBE in 2018

The mayor will lead the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, which came into force earlier in the year after a devolution deal was agreed between City of York Council, the former North Yorkshire County Council and the government in 2022.

The deal will see more than £750m in funding devolved to the combined authority from central government over 30 years.

At the head of the combined authority will be an elected mayor - just like those in West and South Yorkshire, Manchester, Liverpool and Teesside.

The mayor will act as a figurehead for York and North Yorkshire, lobbying the government for support on regional issues.

They will take charge of transport, housing and community safety across North Yorkshire

The York and North Yorkshire mayor will be given powers by central government to make decisions locally on issues including: public transport, improving supply and quality of housing, securing land development and adult education

They will also take responsibility for community safety, and will be able to appoint a deputy mayor who will carry out many duties currently held by the North Yorkshire police, fire and crime commissioner.

The mayoral combined authority does not replace the existing councils, which will continue to deliver services to residents.

The task of counting the ballots will get under way on Friday 3 May, followed by the declaration of the newly elected mayor.

A spokesperson for the new combined authority, , said: “Our Mayor will be a strong voice and a champion for York and North Yorkshire businesses and communities.

“They’ll provide key leadership in public safety, taking on the role and functions of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner.

“This is an opportunity for more control over our region and how our economy can grow in the right ways to create new jobs and opportunities for local people.”