Maurice Leen, Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for the Independent Working Class Association in Oxford East, knocks city councillor Susan Brown for announcing 'headline grabbing' initiatives to deal with antisocial behaviour (Oxford Mail, March 8).

How dare she even try to deal with antisocial behaviour during the run-up to an election? Disgraceful!

Every day in the Oxford Mail, I read letters by prospective candidates for this and for that.

Some have previously been councillors, then chose to stand down to move on to better things -- and why not? I can't blame them for that.

Others have appeared out of the woodwork, never having taken part in any kind of public service (working as a councillor, dealing with ward issues). But they feel that they, nevertheless, have a right to proclaim to the citizens of Oxford their views and get elected on that alone.

Sorry, but I think that if you are asking the public to elect you to a position as a councillor, but more importantly as an MP, you have to prove to the electorate that you are prepared to work tirelessly in your ward or constituency.

Ms Brown has not only worked tirelessly for her ward, but has worked extremely hard as a portfolio holder on the executive board on crime and disorder.

Andrew Smith has been an extraordinarily effective and hard-working MP for Oxford East.

Have you noticed that he has not written any nasty little letters to the Oxford Mail?

I suspect that that is because he is confident within himself that he has worked as hard as he possibly can for Oxford East during his time as MP. I represent the Littlemore ward, and I dare Mr Leen to suggest that my commitment to my ward is in any way diminished by the fact that I do not live in the ward.

But I also challenge him to let Oxford know what he has done in the way of public service in Oxford over the past few years.

After all, that is the usual reason for people to enter public service. Unless, of course, he has another agenda? Please let us know.

I look forward to reading why I should vote for him. GILL SANDERS (Councillor), Sheriff of Oxford, Oxford City Council, Headington Road, Oxford