Rich was born and raised in North Kent and has lived most of his life in Swale and the Medway Towns.

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He now lives on the edge of Faversham with his wife, Bea. He has run his own successful business as a wedding photographer for the past 16 years and has photographed nearly 500 weddings. Due to the pandemic, Rich has been unable to do much photography over the past year, but this has given him the opportunity to become more involved with local politics and to devote more time to working for his community.

“Rich Lehmann cares about our area and can win here. Local Liberal Democrats ask people to vote for him on 6 May 2020” Anthony Hook, KCC Councillor, Liberal Democrats

During the lockdown Rich volunteered with Faversham Mutual Aid to get essential supplies to people who were self-isolating. He was area organiser, coordinating around 25 volunteers across his neighbourhood.

Rich will fight for: √ Increased schools funding – particularly for children who need extra help √ Free school meals for all children from families on Universal Credit √ Better pay and conditions for health and social care workers √ Greater mental health support for those that need it √ Faster rollout of highspeed broadband to assist people working from home √ Reinstatement of lost bus routes and vital services such as mobile libraries

Rich will hold the Council to account on climate and the environment.

Kent County Council have promised action to reduce carbon emissions, but achieving targets they have set requires sustained work over many decades and they need to go further still.

Rich will push for: √ More natural management of our roadside verges and hedges to support biodiversity √ Investment in safe, well-funded routes for pedestrians and cyclists √ Protection of green and natural spaces √ Help to protect Swale’s residents, communities and countryside now and into the future

Rich cares deeply about our communities and the countryside we live in. Over the last year, he has been out and about around our villages delivering newsletters, talking to residents, litter-picking, reporting potholes, blocked drains and fly-tipping. Rich saw so much litter on our roadsides that he set up Swale Litter Squad, lending out litter-picking equipment and empowering people to tidy up their local areas for the good of the environment and our mental health.

Rich will speak up for his community.

We need a committed local voice which will focus on the needs of communities, residents and businesses when decisions are made and budgets drawn up.

Rich will: √ Represent the interests of residents when decisions about roads are made √ Work with residents and parish councils to protect green and natural spaces √ Focus on better responses to problems such as flooding, potholes and streetlighting.