Local businessman and former district councillor Nick O’Shea was the Liberal Democrats’ candidate in the election for Surrey’s Police and Crime Commissioner in November 2012.

Nick is a director of several local businesses in a wide range of sectors as well as a non-executive director with a public company listed on the London Stock Exchange. He has a degree in Maths and Chemistry from King’s College London and is a Chartered Management Accountant (ACMA). He has worked in finance, sales, product development and marketing with many well-known international companies as well as with small local business owners to help them build their businesses successfully.

He has also spend much of the past three years working with the NHS in Surrey, improving contract management and delivery principally for the NHS dental service.

Nick was elected to Mole Valley District Council in May 1991 when he won the Rural South seat (covering Capel and Newdigate) and was re-elected in 1995. During his period on Mole Valley District Council he was vice chair of the Planning & Development Control and Policy & Finance committees and chair of the Budget committee and DLO board. Nick also served as both Deputy and then Leader of the Liberal Democrats’ council group.

Nick’s family has lived in Surrey for over a century, his Irish paternal grandfather married into a local family when stationed in Caterham during the First World War, while his maternal grandfather was a shoemaker who founded a chain of shops in the Sutton and Banstead area. Both Nick’s father and grandfather served as police officers in Surrey before going into the pub and restaurant trade. Nick lived in many parts of the county as his family moved from Ripley to Capel, then Brockham, Cheam, Merrow, Woking, Old Woking, Abinger Hammer, Betchworth and finally to Dorking.

Nick and his chef wife Marion have lived with their family in Dorking for over 35 years. They enjoy travelling, speak several languages, and until recently were closely involved with running Westcott Sports and Cricket Club, where Nick is now a Vice President.