If the Liberal Democrats manage overturn the Conservatives' healthy majority at this week's Wiltshire Council elections, the man leading the council from May onwards will most likely be Calne Central's Ian Thorn.
In 2021 the Lib Dems added seven councillors to their tally, while the Conservatives lost seven. But with Boris Johnson riding high in the polls the Tories managed to maintain a healthy majority, holding 61 seats to the Lib Dems' 27.
This time around, the Lib Dems fancy their chances.
"I think our chances are good," says Cllr Thorn, the Lib Dem group leader. "If you'd asked a year ago I would have said we'd make gains. The (2024) general election was a game changer. We made huge progress last year.
"At the count we think we won 60 of Wiltshire's 98 seats. The Tories disagree with us - they think we won 62. So we start with a large number of potential gains, then add in the national swing."
The Conservatives are fighting a tide of national unpopularity and a challenge from the right flank in the shape of Nigel Farage and his Reform party.
"We would require a phenomenal result to win, with exceptional circumstances - but we have those exceptional circumstances," says Cllr Thorn.
If the Conservatives lose their grip on Wiltshire Council, it will be the first time since 2000 that another party has held power. England's largest council election could be quite the upset.
Sensing victory, activists have been pushing hard in the county. "We have knocked on more doors in March than any other Lib Dem campaign in the entire country," says Cllr Thorn with some pride.
So, what concerns are being raised on the doorstep?
"Potholes, potholes, and potholes," the councillor says. "And then unwanted housing development and lack of infrastructure."
Cllr Thorn says more can be done to improve the county's 2,800 miles of road - although it might mean borrowing money to get the job done.
"I don't like loans, but there's such a crisis on our roads I think it might be justified," says Cllr Thorn.
Unwanted housing development is another bone of contention in the county. Cllr Thorn says the blame falls squarely on the shoulders of his Conservative rivals:
"Unwanted, unplanned development is due almost wholly to the Conservatives' failure to maintain a five year housing supply.
"The current local plan had a number of very large sites which have never been built - we had too few eggs in our basket. We need smaller developments so that if one scheme is unable to deliver, it doesn't cause major problems.
The Lib Dems would also like to see the construction of more social housing, especially larger houses for big families and bungalows for the elderly and infirm.
And it wants to work with colleges to train more young people in trades, and support independent house builders to grow their business and provide more homes.
The lack of infrastructure concerning voters includes lack of access to GPs and dentists. "If you want to see an NHS dentist, the nearest one with availability is in Abingdon," says Cllr Thorn. "If we win the election, there will be a cabinet member with responsibility for health, and liaising locally with the NHS."
And the vitality of town centres is also high on the list of voters' priorities. Wiltshire is a county of market towns, with 22 towns or large villages – many of them struggling.
"How do we create greater vitality at a time when we can go on our phones and order whatever we like and get it delivered the next day?" asks Cllr Thorn.
"Well, Wiltshire Council owns a lot of retail property. If we own the premises can we be a bit more creative in terms of encouraging entrepreneurs. Can we do something helpful - given our economic development brief - around rents?
"We would like to see an economic strategy with outcomes. The council needs to help create businesses and jobs."
The party also wants to create four Area Committees to better involve local people in the democratic process.
However, Cllr Thorn admits that 'tough decisions' will need to be made by the next council, whoever is in charge.
"There is a growing demand for educational support for children with special needs, which is a growing cost, and a separate demand for adult social care to meet the needs of our ageing population, which is also very expensive.
"We will be faced with a dilemma: balance the budget, or doing the right thing.
"We're the world's sixth largest economy, and there's enormous wealth in the country. But if you can't help the people most in need you're left asking yourself 'what's politics all about?'"
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