Aberdeenshire West Holyrood candidate selected by Liberal Democrats
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The Scottish Liberal Democrats party has chosen its candidate to contest Aberdeenshire West in next year's Scottish Parliament election.
John Waddell has been selected in a ballot of party members in the constituency to contest the seat in the Holyrood vote in May.
The former Banchory Primary and Banchory Academy pupil previously contested West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine in the two most recent General Elections for the Scottish Liberal Democrats.
The seat was previously held by Scottish Liberal Democrat Mike Rumbles when it was West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine, from 1999 to 2011.
Rumbles, who was elected to Holyrood on the North East Regional list in 2016, will stand down from next year.
Mr Waddell said: “I am delighted to be selected to stand for my home constituency at this next election.
“Holyrood is where the majority of political decisions that affect people’s day to day lives here in Aberdeenshire are made, and it is those issues and concerns that I will put at the heart of our campaign.
“Recent elections have been absorbed by constitutional questions and referendum results. In this coming election the Scottish Liberal Democrats will put the domestic agenda front and centre, holding both the SNP and the Tories to account for their failing track records.
“I will fight a campaign putting local issues, needs and concerns front and centre, holding the Scottish Government to account for their failings in education, health and local public services.
“This election is a chance to set ourselves apart from the SNP and the Tories as neither party put our local needs or issues first in Holyrood.”
Mr Rumbles said: “John is very hard working and he already has a great track record of supporting our communities and the north-east.
"He is a superb candidate and will be an excellent MSP for our area.
“People are fed up of being taken for granted by the nationalists and the Tories and their squabbling over narrow political grievances.
"These are difficult times for many people, and we need a serious constituency MSP in the Scottish Parliament who will get on with the day job and fight to get the best deal for our area. I know John will do that.”
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