Sonya Warren wins Buckie by-election
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AN SNP landslide has seen Sonya Warren elected to serve the Buckie ward on Moray Council.
The local businesswoman claimed almost 60% of the vote, leaving her rival Norman Calder (Independent) and Tim Eagle (Conservative) trailing on a turnout of 32.3%.
The poll was called in the wake of the sudden death of the previous incumbent, Joe Mackay, earlier this year.
Councillor Warren said: "I’m just delighted to have won although I certainly never expected to get anything like 60% of the vote.
"I was also very pleased with the turnout, which was quite high for a local council by-election.
"The support I’ve had from the people of buckie, Findochty, Arradoul and Rathven has just been fantastic; I can’t thank them enough, not only for voting for me but voting for me in such large numbers.
"I’d also like to pay tribute to my campaign team, who were wonderful throughout and worked so hard to make this result possible.
"I’ve got a big hole to fill taking over from Joe Mackay, although I’m relishing the challenge. The issues which came up time and again on the doorstep - school closures, the rise in class sizes, the redevelopment of Buckie harbour and the closure of libraries - were the ones I had identified as my main campaign points, which is encouraging to know.
"I’m looking forward to getting to council and having the opportunity to do something about these and other matters, giving the people of te ward a voice and working closely with a strong team of SNP councillors. I’m eager to get on with doing what I was elected by the people of the ward to do."
She will join fellow SNP Councillor Gordon McDonald and Independent Councillor Gordon Cowie in representing the ward.
Her victory boosts the SNP group numbers on the 26-seat Moray Council to 11, making it the single largest group and further imperilling the position of the Independent-Conservative administration. The Independents now have just 10 seats along with one Tory. There are also two non-aligned Conservative councillors and two Labour elected members.
A total of 2,521 votes were cast of which 2,494 were declared valid. Councillor Warren captured 1,485, ahead of Mr Calder on 696 and Mr Eagle on 315.
