David Sandison wins Central Ward by-election

Shetland Aquaculture chairman David Sandison has comfortably won the race to replace Iris Hawkins as the third Central Ward councillor.

The by-election result was declared at Lerwick Town Hall at 10.40am on Friday. Mr Sandison, who is chairman of Scalloway Community Council, was the most popular candidate in an all-male field of six, beating second-placed Stephen Morgan by 228 votes.

Mr Van Der Tol and Tory candidate Mr Richardson both dropped out at the first hurdle after winning 27 and 29 votes respectively.

After second preferences were counted, Mr Sandison won 352 votes, eight votes over the 50 per cent threshold required under the single transferable vote (STV) system. He was followed by Mr Morgan with 124 votes, Ian Scott with 115 votes and Robert Williamson on 81 votes.

Runner-up Mr Morgan paid tribute to Mr Sandison after the declaration, saying he had been a worthy winner. He will take up the seat for just over four months ahead of May’s full set of council elections.

“He’s a good guy, chair of the Scalloway Community Council – well done to him,” he said. “I’d have been delighted to get in, don’t get me wrong, but for me this was putting my name out in the community, doing a bit of canvassing ahead of May. I expected that result and I’m pleased for Davie.”

Turnout for the by-election, the first since Jonathan Wills was elected in the Lerwick South ward back in 2008, was just over 30 per cent with 686 votes cast in total.