Morning Adrian!
In a word..... Yes. I have to believe that.
However, things are going to need to be done differently, and I think they will in the future. It's not enough these days, to appear a few weeks before an election and announce you are standing. No matter how good the intentions, what good you have achieved for your community, and how decent you are as an individual..... you have to use the time in between elections to really hammer home the fact that you STAND for something.
It sounds crass, but it really is like building a brand..... Team IOC. Putting, that face, that name and that party together. Linking it all, in peoples minds.
And of course, working with like minded Independents to ensure this splitting of the vote never happens again.
Some truly wonderful individuals have stepped forward this election. Standing with the sole aim of doing what is right for their community.
Let's hope that they continue.