Council election candidates confirmed
Peter JohnsonA total of 12 ex-councillors will be among 32 candidates, including 10 women, standing in the May election for Shetland Islands Council.
The list of candidates, published this afternoon, shows that Shetland South will be uncontested with only three candidates; Allison Duncan, George Smith and new face Robbie McGregor set to take seats in Shetland Islands Council. Mr McGregor will also be the first councillor to represent the SNP.
Ex-councillors who will be fighting to win back their seats include the North Isles’ Steven Coutts, this time contesting the West Mainland with Gary Robinson and Theo Smith as well as newcomers Catherine Hughson, Ian Tinkler and Debora Nicolson.
The North Isles will be contested by all new faces including Lynsay Anne Cunningham, Cecil Hughson, Alec Priest, Duncan Simpson and Ryan Thomson.
Shetland North sees three woman entering the fray including ex-councillor Andrea Manson as well as Emma Louise MacDonald and Isobel Johnson – one of two Conservative candidates in the election. Ex-councillor Alistair Cooper will also be seeking re-election.
In Shetland Central ex-councillors Mark Burgess and David Sandison will be trying their luck again and they will be contesting the seat with Julie Jemima Buchan, Brian Nugent and Ian Scott.
Lerwick North sees ex-councillor Malcolm Bell trying his hand again and the seat will also be contested by John Fraser, Stephen Leask and Thomas Williamson, the other Conservative.
Lerwick South has five candidates with ex-councillors Peter Campbell, Cecil Smith and Amanda Westlake standing again against newcomers Frankie Valente and Beatrice Wishart.
The ex-councillors who will not be seeking re-election are: Billy Fox (Shetland South); Gary Cleaver (North Isles); Robert Henderson (North Isles); Drew Ratter (Shetland North); Frank Robertson (Shetland West); Vaila Wishart (Shetland Central); Michael Stout (Lerwick North); Allan Wishart (Lerwick North) and Jonathan Wills (Lerwick South).
