In Starobilsk, in Luhansk region, an active phase of campaigning before the mayoral elections, scheduled for June 11, has been started. Among the candidates who run for mayor’s position there are Nataliya Ivashko, head of Luhansk regional party organization of the “Ukrainian Association of Patriots – UKROP”, director of the local processing plant Svitlana Nemtseva, secretary of Starobilsk City Council Yana Litvinova, some local activists, two representatives of the executive power from the neighboring town Svatove. Svitlana Nemtseva and Yana Litvinova are considered to be protégés of the local oligarchs. While Nataliya Ivashko is positioning herself as a defender of the interests of local residents, in particular of the entrepreneurs.
“People’s support gives me confidence. The election is a manifestation of democracy. And it is important that people could judge candidates by their actions,” says Nataliya Ivashko.
The candidate stresses that in Starobilsk the UKROP representatives have been dealing with problematic issues of the city since the election to the City Council, where the party faction has five deputies. Thus there are several problems under their control – in particular, maintenance of reasonable rents for commercial space, and land lease payments.
Starobilsk City Council tries to impose additional fees on the entrepreneurs who are very few in the city. It concerns increasing rents for using land on the territory of the city market.
“My colleagues, deputies from UKROP, and I consider that increase of this tax even up to 5% will not significantly affect the budget revenues, but will inevitably have an impact on business activity and, most importantly, wallets of end-consumers,” said Nataliya Ivashko.
So the issue of protecting entrepreneurs, on the one hand, and strengthening their social responsibility, on the other hand, – are the key points in the program of the candidate for Starobilsk mayor Nataliya Ivashko. It is to be recalled that in the previous mayoral elections in October 2015 Nataliya Ivashko took the second place, having received 21.3% of votes, and the representative of the party “Nash Krai” (Our Land) Volodymyr Zhyvago won the election (with 31.1% of votes).
Reference. Nataliya Ivashko was born in Novovolynsk in Volyn region on August 27, 1971. She has graduated with honors from Kovel Medical College. Gets higher education at Luhansk Taras Shevchenko National University, specialty “rehabilitation”. Lives in Starobilsk since 1990. Is engaged in entrepreneurial activity and has extensive experience in organizational work: from 1996 – chairman of the Street Committee of Starobilsk City Council. In 2014 elected deputy commander of Starobilsk self-defense. From May 16, 2015 – volunteer of the 0624 military unit of Aidar Battalion, now – in the operational reserve. In October 2015 she was elected deputy of Starobilsk City Council from the UKROP party. Head of the NGO “Ukrainian association of combatants and ATO volunteers of Starobilsk district”.
