Battle joined for seats on new council
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TWO well-known Ross-shire figures yesterday confirmed they'll be throwing their hats in the ring for the forthcoming Highland Council elections.
Former Dingwall Academy rector, Graham MacKenzie, and Conon-based financial consultant, Alister MacKinnon, a previous chairman of the village's community council, will stand for election to the Dingwall and Seaforth ward in May.
Mr MacKenzie, who will be one of two candidates put forward by the Scottish National Party (SNP), admitted his decision had been met with raised eyebrows by some given that he only recently retired from the top job at Ross-shire's biggest secondary school after 14 years in post. Before that, he was rector at Alness Academy for four years.
He joked, "I'm not a gardener or into DIY and I'm not a fan of daytime television. And there's only so many games of golf you can play. I'm looking for something to do and as a head teacher I have been a politician with a small 'p' for a long time."
He said that while he had been an SNP member for some time, it had not been appropriate to mix political affiliations with his day job while in post. Free of those restraints in retirement, he said he now wants "to give something back to the community".
Stating that it was an exciting time for the party nationally, and voicing his support for full Scottish independence, Mr MacKenzie said he would seek to focus on more local issues if elected. "Although the target for independence is set out, at a local level we are there for everybody regardless of affiliations."
He acknowledged that with the party putting forward two candidates in many wards – he will stand alongside sitting SNP councillor Peter Cairns – there was a chance it could gain control of Highland Council given the momentum built up after the Holyrood victory.
Alister MacKinnon, a self-employed financial consultant who covers a large swathe of Ross-shire, also enjoys a fairly high-profile locally through his campaigning work with the community council and local school parent council, on a number of issues.
Mr MacKinnon said, "I have been involved in local politics for a number of years through chairing the community council in Conon Bridge. I was asked after completing the stint with the community council to consider standing for Highland Council and it's something that I'm keen to do.
"I sometimes struggle with the way Highland Council operates. There are a lot of good people doing fantastic work but there seems to be a lack of accountability in certain sections and in terms of the priorities that are set.
"There are some people within the council who just seem to be there to receive a pay packet but who simply wouldn't last if they were working in the private sector."
Mr MacKinnon will stand as an independent. He said, "Sometimes party politics enters the fray when I think it should be more focussed on the needs of our own ward."
He voiced concern about the "lack of communication" shown by the council over some major issues, such as the shake-up of classroom assistants. "I believe a lot of stress and grief could have been saved there." The married father-of-three daughters feels he has a strong stake in the community with one child set to attend the new primary school in Conon and the others at Dingwall Academy.
The ward is currently served by four councillors: independents Margaret Paterson and David Chisholm, Peter Cairns (SNP) and Angela MacLean (LibDem). The Journal understands all plan to stand for re-election to the four-member ward.
