Ross MSPs hail victory at Highland Council by-election
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MSPS serving Ross-shire have hailed an SNP success in a Highland Council by-election.
MSPs Kate Forbes and Maree Todd, who share a constituency office in Dingwall, took to social media to pay tribute to Emma Roddick following her success in the Inverness Central by-election with a tally of 1115 votes at the third stage of the process.
The second placed candidate was the Conservative's Rachel Hatfield who got 360, followed by Independent Richie Paxton on 338, who was ahead of the Liberal Democrats Mary Dormer with 325.
Labour’s Ardalan Eghtedar was knocked out in the first round with just 154 votes, only to be followed in the second phase by the Greens' Russell Deacon with 238.
Emma Roddick was announced as the winner by Highland Council chief executive Donna Manson who was acting as returning officer.
Highlands and Islands MSP Maree Todd took to Twitter to say: "Fabulous result Councillor Roddick! Delighted for @Emma_Roddick - she will be an excellent and hardworking councillor for Inverness Central."
Miss Forbes tweeted: "@theSNP up 12 per cent with 45 per cent of the vote on first preferences...well done @Emma_Roddick!"
Miss Roddick said: “I am so excited to start as a councillor I’ve got a big list of things I want to do. My first priority as a councillor will be improving crisis centres for mental health.
“I was inspired to become a councillor when I was working for Fergus Ewing MSP and doing a lot of the casework for him. I really enjoyed that and it is similar to the work of a councillor in that you would be the first port of call for many people so that they can access to help people get the help they are entitled to.”
