TEENAGER Kirsty Salter lost no time in exercising her democratic rights when a local by-election just happened to fall on her 18th birthday. Kirsty, a trainee nursery nurse, put a cross against her favoured candidate in the Alcombe East poll yesterday (Thursday) before popping any champagne corks to celebrate her coming of age. The West Somerset Community College student, who is close to completing her child care studies, lives with her parents Robert and Emma and two younger sisters in Alcombe. "I think it's important to vote," she said. "A lot of my friends who have reached 18 haven't bothered because they're just not interested. "But I think people should bother. If you vote you're choosing someone to stand up for you." The by-election was being held to fill the vacancy on West Somerset Council caused by the resignation of Nick Messarra. Kirsty currently works three days a week in the nursery at Butlins holiday centre in Minehead and is hoping to apply for a job in the special care baby unit at the Bristol Royal Infirmary when she is qualified. She was faced with a choice of four candidates. Fighting the seat for the Liberal Democrats was Tony Bowden, a former Watchet town councillor, Ron Bridle for Labour and Dudley Seale for the Tories - both Minehead town councillors - and Independent Sandra Slade, a former Minehead Town Council employee. Photo: Steve Guscott