Sam's Profile

Sam Potts lives in North Crawley, a village in the north east part of Milton Keynes borough. He is the son of Phil and Barbara Potts, Sam is the middle child of five children (he has an older brother and sister and a younger Sister and Brother). Sam has lived in Milton Keynes for over twenty five years. He attended the local schools of Ousedale Secondary, Lovat Middle and North Crawley Church of England First School. Being educated in Milton Keynes Sam is passionate about local education in the borough, he is a governor of North Crawley C of E School and Emberton First School, and he was until recently also a governor at Tickford Park School, a new school formed from Riverside Primary and Lovat Middle Schools.

Sam is the Liberal Democrat Councillor for Sherington Ward succeeding former Councillor Pat Seymour also Liberal Democrat who retired in 2007. Sam's shock election victory in May 2007, at the time the youngest he was the youngest councillor selected or appointed in the history of Milton Keynes - been elected at 23 years old.

Despite his youth Sam has been a member of the Sherington Lib Dem Focus Team for a number of years prior to winning the seat he acted as the local Liberal Democrat Agent. One of Sam's other passions is young people in care, Sam is the Milton Keynes Council rep on the Adoption and Permanence Panel and in 2009 was asked by the Cabinet member for Children's services to sit on the Fostering Panel as well.

Sam is currently also the Cabinet member for Adult Social Care, Health and wellbeing elected to the Cabinet in 2010.

Sam is a qualified First Aider and a keen supporter and member of St John Ambulance of which he has been a member of since he was 7 years old.

Prior to winning his seat in 2007 he was a consultant, managing a User Acceptance Testing project for an international company. Prior to this Sam has had a varied career working for Liverpool City Council, working in logistics, working in a Housing Association in Milton Keynes, as well as an activities officer for a home that specialized in acute brain injuries, he also spent some time working for the Campaigns Department for the Liberal Democrats.

Sam's concerns regarding education, the health service, the environment and the lack of police locally led him to become active in local politics. He has been at the forefront of Milton Keynes politics as a Liberal Democrat Agent in Milton Keynes playing a key role in ensuring the Liberal Democrats took outright control of Milton Keynes Council in May 2002.

Sam used his high profile to expose the lies told about the Iraq war both on a national scene marching in London, and more locally speaking at the Milton Keynes Council meetings, asking the questions that local Labour politicians did not want to answer.

Both before and during his time as an active Liberal Democrat, Sam has been active within his local community. For many years he has campaigned for speed restrictions in villages across Milton Keynes, he lead the NEEM1 campaign (No Expansion East of the M1) which successfully challenged both the Labour Government and the joint Bucks and Aylesbury Conservative controlled councils Buchanan report - an argument for 12,500 more houses to be built East of the M1, he also stood up against his own party leadership against the Shell Garage application in Lathbury/Newport Pagnell, Sam is considered to be pro-green Liberal Democrat but opposed the wind turbines built in Petsoe Mannor, Emberton.

Only a year after being elected to Milton Keynes Council Sam was elected Chairman/business manager for the Liberal Democrat Group on Milton Keynes Council. In May 2010 he was elected to serve on the Cabinet and the Leader of the Council Cllr Cec Tallack asked him to take on Adult Social Care, Health and Wellbeing portfolio.

Sam has until recently been a member of the Bucks and Milton Keynes Fire Authority as well as a member of Astwood and Hardmead Parish Council

Sam does not get very much free time, but when he does he enjoys socializing with his friends, reading and listening to music.