Buckie ward by-election takes place today
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People in Buckie are going to the polls today after missing out on being able to vote at the local government elections earlier this year.
Today's vote comes about after councillor Christopher Price resigned in August after only 103 days in the job.
The Liberal Democrat stated he had found it difficult to manage his duties as councillor while also working full-time as a travel clerk with the Ministry of Defence.
Mr Price was one of only three candidates who stood to be the ward's three councillors during the local government elections on May 6.
As a result he along with the SNP’s Sonya Warren and Neil McLennan who was a Conservatives at the time, were sworn in without a vote.
By contrast, there are five candidates standing today.
Access to childcare, road safety, anti-social behaviour and the cost of living are on many people’s minds, however the main local issue appears to be the replacement of Buckie High School.
Moray Council has submitted funding bids to the Scottish Government to help with the costs of replacing both the coastal secondary and Forres Academy.
However, councillors will be asked next week to chose the Forres school as the local authority’s priority project.
Whoever is successful in today's by-election will be able to have their say at this coming Monday's education committee meeting.
Currently the council is run by a minority Conservative administration with nine members.
The SNP is the second largest party with eight councillors.
Three Labour members, two independents and one Green councillor also sit on the local authority.
James Allan – the member for Heldon and Laich – is a Conservative but not a member of the administration.
Neil McLennan was co-leader of the Tory group but is no longer aligned with the party.
The five candidates standing today are:
- Tim Eagle, Conservative and Unionist
- Keighly Goudie, Labour
- Neil Houlden, unaligned
- John Stuart, SNP
- Les Tarr, Liberal Democrat
