THE MORAY SNP GROUP have revealed details of their candidates for the two Elgin wards in the forthcoming local council elections.
Three candidates were included at Wednesday’s 4pm nomination deadline – one new candidate and two serving councillors.
For Elgin City North, serving councillor Patsy Gowans is being joined by Paula Coy, while in Elgin City serving councillor Graham Leadbitter will once again contest the ward.
Patsy Gowans moved to Moray 20 years ago – she has served the SNP group on Moray Council since 2012. She said: “My five years as a Councillor in Elgin City North has taught me a great deal about the many and varied services the Council provides and I am committed to making these vital services sustainable and fit for purpose.
“I have had several big successes, including getting a new accessible footpath providing a key route to Morriston Playing Fields and the town centre. I have worked with council and NHS professionals to get the Victoria Cottages back into use and I am currently campaigning to save vital bus routes serving Bishopmill.
“Social inclusion and giving people a voice is hugely important to me and I am seeking people’s support for me to continue to give them that voice.”
Paula Coy moved to Elgin 30 years ago and works as an auxiliary assistant in a local primary school. She said: “I am delighted to have been selected to stand for the SNP in the Elgin City North Ward. I believe my experience of supporting children in a local Elgin school will stand me in good stead if I am elected.
“Elgin has been my home for thirty years and it has been a wonderful place to bring up my family. I am passionate about local government issues including affordable housing and education and I firmly believe that with my life experiences I can make a difference in Moray Council.
“I am asking the people of Elgin North to support me to be their Councillor on 4 May.”
Graham Leadbitter has represented Elgin City South since 2007 and is a Parliamentary Assistant to Moray’s MP, Angus Robertson.
Mr Leadbitter said: “It has been a real privilege to be a councillor for Elgin City South for the last ten years and I am once again asking the people of Elgin South for their support to continue working for them on The Moray Council.
“Over that time, I have helped many people with issues from streetlights to dog fouling to housing and tackling anti-social behaviour issues. I also very much enjoy working with local groups such as the Community Council, the New Elgin and Ashgrove Hall Committee and parent councils in all the schools in the ward.
“I have worked closely with other councillors to make progress on improving Elgin with projects such as the new cycle path along the River Lossie and the current work on the Muckle Cross behind St Giles church. If elected again I will continue to work hard for the Elgin community.”
Also contesting the Elgin City North ward are: Billy Adams (Independent), Frank Brown (Scottish Conservative and Unionist), Sandy Cooper and Nick Taylor (Scottish Labour). Contesting the Elgin City South ward are: John Divers (Scottish Labour), Sean Malone (Independent) and Ray McLean (Scottish Conservative and Unionist).