MORAY SNP HAS pinned their hopes on regaining a Moray Council seat in Heldon & Laich on a former teacher and educational adviser.
Burghead resident Joyce O’Hara has been announced as the SNP candidate in the by-election to be held on October 1.
Active in a number of community organisations in and around Burghead, Mrs O’Hara spent her career in education from Primary through to University, as well as leading international education project in Europe and Africa.
Passionate about equality and fairness, she is a committed community volunteer, a leader in the Awesome Children’s Club and convener of the Burghead Church of Scotland Guild. As a keen walker she can often be found on the trails around Lossiemouth, Hopeman and Roseisle.
Joyce said: “I feel very proud to be standing as SNP candidate in the Heldon & Laich By-election.
“Having spent my career gaining a broad range of skills in the education sector I want to put those skills to further good use. Throughout my life I have been active as a volunteer and in fundraising activities in a range of community organisations and I want to take that further by seeking the support of the community to represent them in Moray Council.
“In recent years I have had the opportunity to be more active in local politics on issues such as the widely opposed closure of libraries, when I joined local campaigners to protest against the plans.
“The SNP voted against closing the libraries – with one more vote the libraries could have remained open. It is issues like this that demonstrate how important it is to have a strong group of SNP councillors who are working to protect community interests.
“I believe I would be a strong advocate for all of the communities in Heldon and Laich Ward from Burghead, Hopeman and Lossiemouth along the coast to the rural areas of Alves, Duffus, Findrassie, Kellas, Miltonduff, Pluscarden and Spynie.”
Mrs O’Hara is the third candidate to declare an intention to contest the Heldon & Laich by-election, called after the resignation of independent councillor Eric McGillivray. Also contesting the seat will be independent candidate Dennis Slater from Hopeman and Moray Greens convener James MacKessack-Leitch from Alves.