Could you tell readers about yourself, and why you’ve chosen to try and represent this ward?
I have lived in this ward all my life and I would be extremely proud to be a strong local voice for these communities on Argyll and Bute Council. The challenges that people are facing in Lomond North are ones that I am hugely familiar with and want to tackle as the ward’s newest councillor. I attended Rosneath Primary and I set up my own business in the area, which I have ran since 2005, coping through both the financial crash and the Covid crisis.
I believe tackling those challenges puts me in good stead to bring about fresh and bold ideas as we continue to deal with the Covid pandemic as well as driving forward our economic and social recovery.
My work takes me across Argyll and Bute as well as further afield across Scotland, giving me insight into how the needs of our communities in Lomond North must be met compared with other areas in other parts of the country.
While this is my first foray into standing for election, I have felt for a long time that I could bring a difference from within the council chambers.
Away from my work and current campaigning, I am a motorsport enthusiast and I enjoy spending time with my partner and son.
Currently Argyll and Bute Council is run by TALIG – the Argyll, Lomond and the Islands Group, a coalition of Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and some independent councillors. If elected, would you join this group?
Yes I would. I am proud to be standing as the Scottish Conservative and Unionist candidate in this by-election. Local people and their concerns will always be my priority if I am elected, but I am also keen to ensure that we return a majority of Scottish Conservative councillors to Argyll and Bute Council in May next year.
What do you think are the four key issues in the future for the ward?
There are many challenges facing communities in Lomond North as we continue to deal with the Covid crisis as well as looking to our recovery from the pandemic. However, many of these local issues and challenges have been with us since well before the pandemic struck.
Many of these issues are day-to-day problems that I believe could benefit from a fresh voice championing them on the council. The parking situation in our towns and villages is completely unacceptable. The new Luss car park shows what can be done and we must ensure there is adequate parking provision across our communities.
Our roads and pavements are not in an acceptable state and we want to attract people to come and live and work here. Ensuring that potholes and poorly maintained pavements are fixed can help that.
Crucial local services have been badly affected by the pandemic and we must focus on ensuring they can recover to deliver the highest quality level of service for local residents. However, for that to happen we must have a fair funding deal from the SNP-Green Scottish Government. Local authority budgets have been slashed year after year by the SNP and that cannot continue. I will fight for a fair funding deal to be enshrined in law for councils like Argyll and Bute.
Currently the council is considering a ‘cluster’ system, which would see several schools share a headteacher and management team. Do you support this policy?
These proposals are currently at the consultation stage and no final decisions have been taken by those responsible within Argyll and Bute Council. I would encourage everyone living locally to make their views known to the council in good time, to ensure their voices are heard.
If elected in the by-election, would you stand for re-election in next May’s council elections?
Yes I would. I know many local people are frustrated by the timing of the by-election, as it won’t feel like long again until council elections in May. However, if elected I would get straight to work for local residents, however they voted and would hope to secure their trust again when standing for re-election.