Meet Ross-shire’s newest Highland councillor
THE Cromarty Firth ward’s newly elected councillor is getting accustomed to working on Highland Council a week after winning a by-election.
Independent Richard Cross, who lives in Invergordon, was the choice of voters in a nine candidate by-election last week.
He secured victory at stage nine of the single transferable vote count, after leading the pack of nine candidates.
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He replaces Maxine Smith who served the Ward for 18 years. She resigned from her role on March 31, triggering the by-election.
Richard paid tribute to Maxine and her many years of dedicated service to the communities of the Cromarty Firth Ward.
He said: “As a councillor I hope that I will maintain the principles of being clear, open and fair. I hope I'll be a good listener and I'll do my absolute level best for the ward.”
He and his wife Sabine (née Stoltman), previously ran a guest house business overlooking the Cromarty Firth.
His wife is the aunt of Tom ‘the Albatross’ Stoltman a three-time World’s Strongest Man winner.
He hopes to bring a wealth of local knowledge and experience from his background in self-employed business and as a former community councillor, and also having served on the Children’s Panel for several years.
He said: “I don’t doubt the size of the task, and fully expect robust debate. Any success I might achieve will inevitably be limited, but the legacy I really want to leave is a recognition that when good people work together in unity, great things can happen.
“It might need to be demonstrated on a small scale, seeds sown for others to nurture. It is said ‘A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step’”.
