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21
Jun 2021
Harrogate councillor resigns for "family reasons"
A Conservative councillor for Harrogate Borough Council and Knaresborough Town Council has resigned from both posts.
Samantha Mearns, who was also chair of the general purposes committee, sent out a leaflet to residents over the weekend.
She said she was resigning after her younger brother died and her mother was diagnosed with cancer.
Her mother's current prognosis is good but she has recently moved with her husband to Wales to be closer to her family.
She said:
The Stray Ferret understands that Knaresborough resident Jacqui Renton will stand in her place for the next election.
It is unclear at this time when the by-election will be held. It is also unclear whether Samantha Mearns will stay on as a case worker for Andrew Jones MP.
Police investigation into Gmund Cars Ltd
Samantha Mearns remains at the centre of a police investigation into missing Porsche cars worth more than one million pounds because she had "significant control" in the company which her husband owned.
Gmund Cars Ltd, which traded classic Porsche cars, was dissolved in September 2020.
The Stray Ferret spoke to six victims who took their cars to Gmund Cars Ltd on a sale or return basis. They said they never saw their cars again.
Samantha Mearns told the Stray Ferret last year :
The Stray Ferret contacted North Yorkshire Police this morning, the investigation has not concluded and is still ongoing.
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