Landward Caithness By-election result

2nd May 2013

The by-election for a councillor to serve the Landward Caithness Ward (No 4) on The Highland Council has been won by Mrs Gillian Coghill from Halkirk, who will join the Independent Group on the Council

Mrs Coghill from Halkirk was one of four candidates, who contested the vacancy, created by the retiral of Robert Coghill in February. She joins Councillors David Bremner (Independent), Willie Mackay (Independent) and Alex MacLeod (Independent Nationalist) in representing Landward Caithness Ward.

Voting was by the single transferable vote and Mrs Coghill emerged as the winner at the first stage of the count, gaining 1,317 of the 2,462 valid first preference votes cast. The quota was 1,232. 17 votes were rejected
The turn out was 28.85%.

The other candidates were:

David Baron, Scottish Labour Party
Hanna Miedema, Scottish National Party (SNP)
Barbara Anne Watson, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Candidate

Mrs Coghill said: �I would like to thank everyone who voted for me and supported my campaign. I hope to continue the good work of my predecessor, Robert Coghill, in serving Landward Caithness.�

Votes Breakdown
David Baron LAB - 417
Gillian Coghill IND - 1317
Hanna Midema SNP - 525
Barbara Watson CON - 203

The representation of the 80-member Council now is: - Independent 35, SNP 21, Liberal Democrats 14, Labour 8, Independent Nationalist 2.

PHOTO
Ex-councillor Robert Coghill independent congratulates another independent candidate Gillian Coghill after she won the Landward Caithness ward bi-election.