Tain and Easter Ross by-election candidates make final pitch to voters as Highland Council decision day arrives
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VOTERS in an Easter Ross ward will today get the opportunity to express their preference for a new councillor to represent them on Highland Council.
One of three seats in the Tain and Easter Ross ward became vacant on the resignation of Sarah Rawlings (Scottish Libertal Democrat).
Seven candidates have thrown their hats in the ring:
ALLISON, Gordon - Scottish National Party (SNP)
BARNETT, Andrew - Scottish Green Party
CHRISTIAN, Harry - Scottish Libertarian Party
MORRISON, Veronica - Scottish Conservative and Unionist
PERERA, Michael - Scottish Labour Party
ROSS, Maureen - Independent
STEPHEN, Charles - Scottish Liberal Democrats
The successful candidate will join fellow ward members, Councillors Derek Louden (Scottish National Party) and Alasdair Rhind (Highland Independent).
Voting will take place today with the electronic count taking place tomorrow in the ward.
We'll bring you the result of the election on our website.
We approached all of the candidates for statements ahead of polling day.
Gordon Allison (Scottish National Party)
Born and raised in Kirkcaldy, the SNP’s Gordon Allison studied at Edinburgh University and worked in Falkirk, London and Glasgow before moving to the Highlands in 1990.
His move North was to help make best use of BT’s digital telecoms upgrade, and he soon had every school in the Highlands using email and discussion forums...long before the Internet was even “a thing”.
His career has been mostly in business analysis, process redesign, corporate evaluation and operational scrutiny...detailed study to make things work better, and he has won various awards including recognition in the Highlands and Islands Business Awards.
He spent many years advising and guiding Highland Council, NHS Highland and the Scottish government on better data sharing and service integration for Children’s Services and for Adult Health and Social Care and has also worked with Universities and Colleges across Scotland.
He is currently vice-chair of Edderton Community Council and treasurer for the Far North Line Community Rail Partnership – a new Partnership looking at sustainable transport and marketing the tourism aspects of the rail line from Fearn Station to Thurso and Wick.
He describes himself as “not just a desk jockey” and happy to get directly involved. His current job is as one of ILM Highland’s Handyperson Team giving help and support throughout Ross and Sutherland to our elderly and to people with additional care needs saying “there is no job more satisfying than delivering real help to real people and giving real benefit.”
He chose to stand for election because he believes he can use his skills and experience to make a positive difference for Tain and Easter Ross, and also for the Highlands, in these difficult economic times.
READ ALSO: What you need to know about the Tain and Easter Ross by-election
Seven to contest vacant Tain and Easter Ross seat
Resignation of councillor triggers ward by-election
Andrew Barnett (Scottish Green Party)
This is a hugely exciting time to be standing for election in Tain.
If given the privilege of representing the people of Tain and Easter Ross I will do everything within my power to make sure that I work with the communities to deliver our policy focus: local solutions, building on the successes the Greens in government.
I want to make sure I am supporting local businesses, allowing us to keep more young people in the area as well as working to ensure that insulating Highland homes is a top priority in Tain. More people, in better housing, with cheaper bills, can be nothing but positive for an area so long ignored and under invested in by Highland Council.
It is also vital that we continue encouraging active travel – supporting the 20mph speed limit roll out which keeping our streets safer for everyone. But more than this: allowing people to walk, or cycle, in safety should not just be an option reserved for those in the cities – there is no reason that Tain can not be safe, accessible and restored to former glories.
Finally, I want to find innovative solutions to bus issues, including potential community ownership models as a way of allowing local people - who know what is best for them – to make the right decisions, at the right times.”
Veronica Morrison (Scottish Conservative and Unionist)
I live in the Tain and Easter Ross Ward. My husband works here. I know the area and its priorities well through chairing a community council and my involvement in local charitable and voluntary activities.
At the election hustings last week several of the candidates who don’t live in the Ward admitted they could not answer questions from the floor because they were not aware of the issues. For example, the considerable unease about the proposed anaerobic bio-digester.
In the next few years we will see enormous change and wonderful opportunities from the new Freeport. We must grasp these with both hands but also ensure the benefits are permanent bringing lasting improvements to us and our children. And that they do not disadvantage those who already live in the area by first putting in place the necessary infrastructure such as better roads, adequate medical facilities, decent public transport links and sufficient school places.
That is where I can really help because, should I be elected, I will be allocated one of the Conservative seats on Highland Council’s Freeport Monitoring Group where I will ensure our voice is heard. It will be a challenge no mistake but I, who promise to work full-time as your councillor, am up for it.
This election alone will not change much at Highland Council which is run by the SNP in coalition with the Independent councillors. We in Easter Ross already have SNP and Independent councillors. We had a Liberal Democrat councillor. It’s time for fresh blood. Please lend me your vote for the next three years. I WILL represent you and our local needs respectfully but forcefully. If you find I have not delivered then don’t vote for me next full election. But on Thursday vote MORRISON 1.
Michael Perera (Scottish Labour Party)
Recently retired from the NHS after a wide and varied career of 39 years I mainly worked in senior management positions in mental health and substance misuse services and gained considerable experience in care provision in the justice system.
I am well versed in the health and social needs of the local area through my time managing the Community Mental Health Services in Easter Ross. My final position was as General Manager for Mental Health, Learning Disabilities and Substance Misuse. I have experience in leading teams providing services to the public in the face of budget cuts, something that is especially needed these days with an SNP/Green government taking aim at councils and making the most vulnerable pay the price.
There is better news for Tain and Easter Ross with the announcement of the creation of a Green Freeport centred on Cromarty and Inverness ports. Although this Freeport is being designed to benefit the whole of the Highlands, it is vital that Tain and Easter Ross does not miss out on this important development, especially given its pool of skilled labour.
I believe in the ability, and necessity, of local communities to be involved at all stages of the decision making process. I am a Scottish history/Archaeology Student at UHI and have been studying the Land wars of the 17th century, the first of these taking place in Scotsburn where local men banded together to take on the power and greed of landowners determined to impose their will on the Easter Ross people.
They failed because they did not remain united in their opposition. Local concern over the bioenergy plant at Fearn is a modern-day example where a voice in the council chamber will ensure these concerns are heard. The days of councils and governments imposing decisions on communities without proper consultation is over. I will be the loudest voice in presenting your views and opinions and ensuring that Tain and Easter Ross is well represented.
Maureen Ross (Independent)
As an Independent Candidate with a positive local vision, I will fight for the best deal for the people that I will be serving, making sure their voice is heard not only at Highland Council but in decisions relating to tourism, the Easter Ross Area Place Plan and the Green Freeport (a significant development potentially creating up to 15,000 jobs locally).
It is vitally important that as councillors we are sitting around these tables to ensure that we as an area benefit. I am not forgetting the many issues mentioned to me on the doorsteps – social housing provision and maintenance, pot holes, transport, grass growing on our pavements – each issue important.
Highland Council has its fundamental responsibility to provide the essential services. We know Highland Council budgets are overstretched and we continually hear about massive cuts having to be made. Perhaps the time has come for a new way of working with the community, one where together we open-handedly share knowledge and experience to get things done. There is significant
Government funding out there for Regeneration Capital Projects – is our ward taking advantage of this? Also there are other major funders with substantial community funds to support strategic projects which can achieve significant impacts in the local community. It will take joint efforts with others, and I’m up for it, are you? I believe in making where we live somewhere that people wish to stay and see their children and grandchildren grow up in.
This ward has great potential for growing sustainable tourism, there is so much to offer the visitor let us build a mutually beneficial ‘give and take’ relationship bringing economic and social benefits to our communities.
Tim Hardin, an American folk and blues musician wrote the song Don't make promises you can't keep. I hold strongly to that, but be assured I will do my best for the area, it’s my home.
Charles Stephen (Highland Liberal Democrat)
It is a privilege to put myself forward as the Highland Liberal Democrat candidate for Tain and Easter Ross.
This part of the world means so much to me. My great-grandparents were from Balnabruach and my mother and her mother were from Nigg. I have also worked with local schools and with social work services to develop improved provision for children and families.
I am now standing in this election because I want to make sure that local issues and local people are always put first.
As ward manager with the Council for the last 15 years, I have the experience and know how to get things done. I know who the key people are in the council and who to approach to resolve issues and effect action.
Talking to people locally, it is clear there is a lot of work to do.
We must do better in providing a regular and reliable bus service as a way to not only keep people moving across our area, but also allow people to interact within the community and stop the feeling of isolation.
Working with our local MP Jamie Stone, I am also fighting to make improvements to roads and road safety and to ensure our communal green areas are maintained. I am also an active champion for the 3-18 campus. We must ensure key deadlines are met and the campus meets the needs of the children and families.
I would be honoured to receive your vote at the election on Thursday 28th September. Now that I am retired, I can commit to being a full-time councillor that holds the flailing SNP-led administration in Inverness to account.
If elected, I promise to work diligently with you and the communities of Tain and Easter Ross to get things done. Thank you.
Also standing is Harry Christian of the Scottish Libertarian Party who was contacted via email for comment but had not responded. He has a Facebook page.
Watch our website for the result of the election tomorrow.
