Cromarty Firth ward candidates make pitch to voters ahead of Highland Council election next week
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Four of the following nine candidates running to represent the Cromarty Firth will be elected to Highland Council
Andrew Baxter – Conservative and Unionist Party
As a councillor, first elected in 2012, I have the experience and expertise to represent residents across the diverse Cromarty Firth ward.
The media like to use the word outspoken when describing me. With a reputation for a no-nonsense approach to dealing with council bureaucrats and the out-of-touch clique of independent councillors that have allowed the Highland Council to deliver declining services and miss opportunities seized upon by other areas, I am certainly outspoken and never afraid to stand up for the interests of residents.
The council secretly made decisions affecting our everyday lives during the pandemic behind closed doors. I forced them to be open and transparent instead.
The council paid £1000 a day consultancy fees for a Director of Education. I exposed this scandalous waste of your money despite attempts by some councillors to hide the truth.
The council continues to centralise power and concentrate spending in Inverness to the detriment of other areas. I’ve consistently fought against proposals that benefit the city but short-change the rest of the Highlands.
Where other councillors remain mute or happily go along with the Inverness mafia in hope of getting a chairmanship or extra responsibilities – I am always prepared to take a stand on behalf of constituents.
Tamala Collier – Scottish National Party (SNP)
A vote for me is also a vote for a strong SNP team in the Highland Council and a team that, despite being in opposition, has already managed to make a positive difference in the Cromarty Firth area, which is my home. I have always been a hard worker and I am ready to work hard for you as a councillor.
If elected I intend to concentrate on the following issues:
Promoting openness between the council and those it serves as every person has a right to know what the council is doing for them. That includes easily accessible lists detailing priorities, such as road maintenance, which are online and up to date.
Ensuring Cromarty Firth gets a fair share of council budgets so we can bring our roads, schools, housing and other services up to scratch.
I will support the creation/development of local youth groups so they give youngsters a positive view of their communities. Our youth should also have access to career guidance, particularly on clean energy jobs locally.
I will stand with those most affected by hardship brought on by Tory cost of living crisis.
I’ll be highlighting poor service delivery, which the previous Lib Dem, Labour and Independent administration had to be firmly reminded of.
The Highland Council needs many more local decisions made in Easter Ross and other areas so people can begin to feel it is their council.
Eric Fraser – Independent
(All efforts were made to contact each candidate but some could not be reached)
Maxine Smith – Independent
I’ve now been your councillor for 15 years. Prior to that I did volunteering and community work for Invergordon and Newmore for over 15 years. I care passionately about people, the environment and the economics of an area. It needs good employment opportunities as well as leisure centres and areas to walk but also you need new housing and a sense of community to flourish.
I’ve tried to promote all of these over the last 30 years and please read my main election leaflet that will come through your door around 25 April.
There’s a list of the many big ticket items I’ve worked on and delivered from new schools to playparks and housing, often as a team.
I love my Council job and have held many senior positions. I’m well respected and in turn respect my colleagues, especially the Council employees who do an amazing job for you all.
There’s still a shortage of money and this is frustrating for you and for me but until the system of funding the Council changes I will do my best to think out of the box to get things done for you.
Please use your 1st vote for me or if not your 2nd. Many thanks.
Pauline Munro – Independent
As I come to the end of my current period as a local councillor I would like to thank everybody who voted for me in 2017 , as well as my fellow ward and Highland councillors of all parties as well as Highland Council staff who have helped me for the last 5 years.
Being a local councillor has been both rewarding when we manage to solve problems and frustrating as there are never enough resources to solve all of the problems.
The one thing that Covid has taught me was that our little communities pull out all the stops to help each other in a time of need.
I had the great opportunity to meet a lot of my constituents in a very special way , be it from delivering prescriptions or food throughout ward 6 which really helped me learn so much.
I also met a lot of wonderful people who gave up there time to help me feed others in our communities whom without there help a lot off what we did would not have been possible.
I have to also thank a several local businesses in our ward too so thank you all.
Unfortunately the continued budget challenges mean that no candidate can promise to resolve all of our problems however if I’m lucky enough to be re-elected I can promise I will continue to do my very best for our ward with the other councillors.
Molly Nolan – Scottish Liberal Democrats
I’m standing for Cromarty Firth ward because I believe our area needs a fresh new voice on the Highland Council.
As a young Evanton resident, time and time again I have watched people my age leave the Highlands because they can’t see a future for themselves here. Whether it’s jobs, housing or childcare, it simply doesn’t work.
Many of our elderly residents are struggling too, facing inadequate public transport and shuttered service points.
We need real change. If elected, I will work closely with communities in Evanton, Alness, Ardross and Invergordon to represent everyone and get a good deal for our area.
My priorities are simple: to give our kids the best start in life, improve our transport infrastructure, and make sure nobody has to choose between heating or eating.
I will focus on health and social care, fight for our high streets, and ensure we keep climate change on the agenda at all times.
I’m a Liberal Democrat because I believe in a free, fair and open society. I want to reverse SNP centralisation and bring hope and prosperity back to the Highlands. If you back me on 5 May I will work hard to do just that.
Daniel Reat – Scottish Greens
(All efforts were made to contact each candidate but some could not be reached)
Kate Stevenson – Independent
I am standing as an Independent in the Cromarty Firth ward I feel local people are better served with councillors who don’t have their bosses in Edinburgh.
I look around and see many local Council issues that need addressing and the impact it has on constituents. I would love the opportunity to be part of making changes to improve our quality of life for everyone.
With budget cuts this makes everything even more depressing; I want to fight for what my community is screaming out for: better road surfacing, quicker pothole filling, safer roads; help with rising energy costs
Improved social housing including new kitchens and bathrooms because council housing needs to be fit for purpose.
Our communities should be listened to; not just via the community councils but using regular surveys, proper consultation and a community lead framework for all.
Climate change – everyone of us can make a difference in how we interact our environment.
We must reduce landfill where possible, recycle, swap centres to reuse items – especially household goods and clothes. Re-use, repeat, re-cycle - repair things.
Community allotments bringing communities together would also provide food. I care passionately about people and our communities.
Kirsty Stewart – Scottish Labour Party
The Highland Council needs to listen to the voices of younger people. Many people of my generation and younger are pretty disillusioned with politics, but we are the ones heavily affected by issues such as housing, employment and education.
We need people with relevant, recent experience of these at every level of government to get real action and change.
If elected, my priorities for the Cromarty Firth will be to fight the cost of living crisis and support the local community. I want to make sure that every person knows that they have an advocate in me – my job is to help them.
For example, I would work to bring Scottish Labour’s plans to introduce a £400 Fuel Costs Payment to those who are hardest hit in our area.
Fuel cost increases disproportionately affect us in rural areas, as we often need to travel for work and may not have the option of reliable public transport.
Labour councillors will also develop a new Highland Council model for better, green local public transport.
I would also fight to reverse the rise to water charges with a £100 rebate for every household, paid for by the huge cash surplus built up by Scottish Water.
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