I turned down £5k election offer
Post columist rejects cash from magnate
A council election candidate claims he turned down an offer of £5000 from a local businessman to help his “fighting fund”.
Ayrshire Post columnist and pub owner Bob Shields – a candidate for the Ayr West ward– said the offer was “genuine” and came from a well known name in business circles.
“It was flattering – but it wasn’t even tempting” said Bob.
“I’m handing out flyers that say ‘no party, no ties.’ Accepting a donation that size didn’t sit with my conscience as an independent.
“Yes, I am funding my own campaign – and 7000 election flyers don’t come cheap.
“But I’d rather be out of pocket than be in somebody else’s pocket.
“It’s not as if he was some kind of close friend.
“He just walked into my pub and, after some election chat, asked if ‘five big ones’ would help me out.
“I wasn’t quite sure what ‘five big ones’ was. ‘Five thousand’, he said.
“When I declined, he just nodded - and left.”
Bob says he has been putting in the miles on the campaign trail.
“I was in Alloway most of last week. I’ve seen more long drives that Jack Nicklaus! “On the doorsteps – almost everyone agrees that something has to change. But they’ve got to vote that way.
“If I had a vote for every time someone has told me ‘we need to do something about that council’ – I’d be Provost, Chief Constable and Lord Lieutenant of Ayrshire.
“May 5 is the ONE day we CAN do something about it.
“If people vote for the person they think will best represent them – and ignore the party badge beside their name on the ballot paper – South Ayrshire’s future will be in better hands.”
For more on the Ayr West campaign and the rest of the candidates standing,see pages 8/9