Runners and riders for the council elections
Sixty-one candidates will contest eight South Ayrshire Council wards at next month’s council elections. Runners and riders were declared last Wednesday across a number of key battleground seats as the campaign begins in earnest.
Tory chiefs will field the largest number of candidates, 19 in total, as they bid to win back control of County Buildings.
The SNP will be represented by 13 candidates while Labour will field eight hopefuls.
Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats have six runners while the Alba Party are represented by four candidates.
Ten independent candidates will stand, with former council leader Hugh Hunter among them in Prestwick following his exit from the Tories earlier this year.
In Ayr West, prominent Ayr town-centre publican and Post columist Bob Shields is in the mix, while former SNP MSP Chic Brodie is another on an independent ticket in Ayr East.
Decades of experience will depart the council as former leader, Douglas Campbell, and current Provost, Helen Moonie, both step aside.
For those not yet registered to vote, applications must reach the electoral registration officer (for Ayrshire) at 9 Wellington Square, Ayr, KA7 1HL by midnight on Monday, April 18.
Applications can be made online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote
This election also gives the right to vote to those who are aged 16 and 17 on election day, but they must be registered.
The deadline for new postal vote and postal proxy applications is 5pm on Tuesday, April 19.
Voting will open at 7am on Thursday, May 5, with polling places closing at 10pm.
The electronic verification and counting of votes will be held the following day, Friday, May 6.