Five candidates in the running — with by-election to be held in May
THE full list of candidates vying for the vacant North Ayrshire Council seat in Kilwinning has now been confirmed.
The by-election will be taking place on May 9, following the death of Conservative councillor John Glover in February.
The local Labour party announced last week that former teacher Mary Hume would be its candidate.
The deadline for submitting nomination papers was 4pm on Friday, April 5 - and on Monday, North Ayrshire Council published a full list of who will be in the running and who they will be representing.
Two familiar names will be returning to ballot papers for next month’s poll.
Among the well-known names is Sheila Gibson, who will be standing for the SNP, having run in the same ward at the last full council election in May 2022.
Mr Glover pipped Ms Gibson at the sixth round of counting two years ago, when he was elected alongside Labour’s Joe Cullinane and Donald Reid and the SNP’s Scott Davidson.
Also returning to the ballot paper after standing in 2022 is Ruby Kirkwood for the Scottish Liberal Democrats.
Ms Kirkwood received 191 first preference votes last time but was eliminated in the fourth round of counting.
The Conservative candidate hoping to succeed Mr Glover is Chris Lawler, while Ian Charles Gibson will contest the seat for the Scottish Family Party.
Victory for either Labour or the Conservatives would make them the main opposition to the minority SNP administration in the council chamber, a role filled by the Conservatives until Cllr Glover’s death.
An SNP win would increase the party’s representation in the chamber to 13 seats.
Prior to retiring in 2022, Ms Hume enjoyed a 22-year career as a teacher in North Ayrshire, including five years as deputy head teacher at St Luke’s Primary in Kilwinning, and 10 years as headteacher at St Mary’s Primary in Largs.
She said: “If I am honoured enough to be elected by the people of Kilwinning, it will be on a clear mandate to secure muchneeded investment for the town.
“As a former head teacher, I will also provide a strong voice for parents and young people.”
Ms Gibson is currently a support foster carer but previously worked as a bio-medical scientist in Glasgow and has also spent time in teaching.
She added: “North Ayrshire needs a strong council invested in the interests of residents to fight poverty, create better communities, and help the well-being of Kilwinning people, and that is why I am standing.
“Above all I am standing because I care about everyone in Kilwinning.”
Polls will be open from 7am to 10pm on May 9 and the electronic count will take place the next day.
Voting will open for registered electors in the Kilwinning ward at 7am on Thursday, May 9, and polling places will remain open until 10pm.
Further information can be found online at tinyurl.com/KilwinningByElection.