Council Election Race Gets Underway Today

13th March 2012

Hopeful candidates for the council elections can get moving from today. The notice of election is being published later and nomination papers have to be returned by 4pm on Thursday 29 March 2012

There arer 22 wards in the Highland council area. Some wards are three members and other scattered population areas are four member wards.

As alway there is a mix of sitting councillors returning to stand again and a few standing down. In Caithness Lib Dem councillor David Flear for Caithness Landward is retiring and Lady Maruion Thurso for Thurso is standing down.

There are three wards in Caithness and it is clear they will all be contested with some cndiates already announcing their intentions to stand over the past few weeks and sitting councillors making their intentions know now. Other candidates will no doubt make announcments now that the nomination papers are available

In Wick Indpendent Bill Ferne and SNP Gail Ross have already announced their intentions to stand for re-election. Councillor Graham Smith had still not announced his intentions up until yesterday. For Labour Neil MacDonald who has stood in previous elections unsuccessfully will once again contest the seat.

In Landward councillor David Bremner as an Independent having left the SNP shortly aftert his election last time. Councillor A I Willie Mackay has also stated his intention to stand. The SNP have a candidate already announced to contest Caithness Landward and he is Alex M