I sense it’s because be makes an effort where others don’t. He posts out leaflets and replies to residents’ emails. I can’t knock him on that front. How many other wannabe councillors bothered to post a leaflet out in Kidlington East? He’s also a District and Parish councillor so will be a familiar name to residents. People often vote for the incumbent and the familiar face even if they don’t really know much about what they achieve (in the case of Middleton, very little) and what they stand for. I reckon if half the electorate knew how he spoke to people online and saw his condescending, aloof posts about all matters, not just the stadium, he’d lose a fair chunk of support. He’s an unpleasant man and not just because he’s on the antis side.
The same could apply in the ward where I live. Saj Malik has become an OCC councillor on the strength of his City council work and tireless leafleting to show what he has done and what he will do.
All that said, ask 10 people in the street who their county councillor is and what they do and I reckon 7/10 would not be able to tell you. They’re volunteers who have time on their hands to attend meetings and do generally boring stuff whilst most of us are at work. It’s why retirees, career politicians and those who self-employed tend to gravitate towards those roles.