“IF I can’t dance, I don’t want to be part of your revolution.” One can find a thousand meanings in this irresistible phrase from the renowned radical and early 20th century feminist, Emma Goldman.

Dressed in colourfully romantic robes, it could be taken as a passionate defence of the rights of the individual and a subtle admission that the most important things in life are those which make life worth living.

Forced to choose between the dance or the revolution, Garry Perkins would not hesitate to execute a flawless pirouette. He has been a councillor in Swindon since 1993 and has represented Haydon Wick for the past four years. And although he places great value on his civic calling, it is not by any means the only thing that defines him.

A chat over coffee reveals a man who once had a painting displayed in London’s National Gallery, who every week swallows half a dozen books on an extensive variety of subjects, who is a seasoned snowboarder and marathon runner, as well as being an accomplished guitarist whose mother banked on his teenage self following in the footsteps of Cliff Richard.

He first got into politics in the early 1980s, just after Thatcher’s sun began its inexorable rise. A row with Dorset County Council over a school closure saw him leading the successful campaign to keep it open, and from that moment he had caught the bug.

“I think it’s important to get involved if you can,” he said, highlighting his natural preference for pragmatism over inertia.

He describes his politics as “right wing with a soft centre” and says his first priority as a councillor is “to represent the people of Haydon Wick.” He said: “To stand up and argue their case in terms of planning, housing, roads – that’s my main focus.”

Garry is one of just two sitting cabinet members up for re-election this year – the other being Mary Martin in Shaw. He has been the cabinet member responsible for regeneration for almost seven years, and although it is not a position that has endeared him to a certain section of the voting public, it is a position of which he remains immensely proud.

“It’s easy to promise things, but you can’t just rush off and spend other people’s money. You have to have a degree of fiscal sanity that makes sure we only spend the money we have in Swindon. The key is to bring partners in who do have the money, which is what we are doing.”

He is undoubtedly sincere when he speaks of all the things that Swindon has to offer.

“The town is beautifully placed to attract people,” he said. “It took them six to 12 months to decide whether or not to build the Outlet Centre in Swindon because they didn’t think it would work. But it does work. It works not just because of the people of Swindon but because of the thousands who come from elsewhere.”

He accepted the sluggish progress of the Kimmerfields project and regretted the recent fallout over the Lydiard affair, but remained confident that the town has only good times ahead.

“Nobody becomes a councillor to make cuts. The hardest thing ever is to put your hand up and say we can’t do that anymore.”

Tomorrow we speak to candidates in Lydiard & Freshbrook