Graham is noticeably different from his Labour and Conservative opponents and is passionate about the West Country.

He attended his local village primary school, later the Grammar and then comprehensive.

Graham's connections with the city date back to 1982 and later he met his wife whilst he lived in the city.

Aged 21 he was elected to Somerset County Council and began 22 years of service holding key positions including on Devon County Council. He was the first Lib Dem to gain a seat from Labour on Exeter City Council.

He is certainly no career politician, having qualified as a Nurse in 1987 and specialising in Stroke care. Today he manages 370 staff, working in 10 settings. His clinical passion is dementia and in November he organised a conference here in the South West, bringing the top speakers on dementia care here, rather than health workers having to make the usual trek to London.

With a retired Head Teacher for a mother, a Deputy Head for a wife, a student for his eldest son and both his younger children at primary school, education is naturally a keen area of interest. He believes that investing in the primary years is crucial to improving learning for all. He welcomed Nick Clegg's Pupil Premium proposal that will bring an extra £27.3M for Devon's schools, helping to reduce primary class sizes to 15.

Graham Supporting a Local Campaign to Save a Teacher at Stoke Hill School

Last year Graham played a leading role in changing the Lib Dem policy on Income Tax - raising the point at which people start paying tax to £10,000, thus helping poorer working families, pensioners and students.

Outside of work and politics Graham enjoys spending time on his other passions; football, wine, history and his family - "My kids keep me grounded. They stop me taking myself to too seriously and are a constant reminder of why politics matters."

Graham provides a positive alternative and would be a strong voice for Exeter in parliament.

See Graham Oakes Profile at the National Liberal Democrat Site.