First Green Cllr hopes to make a big difference
The Green Party achieved a historic win when their first councillor was elected to South Lanarkshire Council.
Kirsten Robb was elected on Friday, May 6, to the East Kilbride East ward with 626 votes.
A dozen candidates ran in elections for the South Lanarkshire Green group, but only one was elected.
This marks a first in the local authority as no Green councillor has ever had a seat.
Councillor Robb said it felt “fantastic” being elected and hopes that it is the first win of many.
She said: “Across Scotland, more and more people are voting for fairer and greener communities.“
She hopes that her ward flourishes and she aims to help residents, saying: “I hope to help East Kilbride East be the best place to live and also to push for policies and projects which tackle the major challenges we all face: the cost of living, poverty and the environment.
“In the first few weeks, I’ll learn about the job and carry on the case work I was dealing with before the election. Then I’ll identify what action I can move forward locally and at South Lanarkshire Council level on the challenges I’ve mentioned.”
She took the opportunity to thank her voters, adding: “Thank you to the massive community effort which made history by electing South Lanarkshire’s first Green councillor. Whoever you voted for, I pledge to respond to you and do my very best to help, whatever your concern.
“I believe that everyone who lives in the ward has something to offer and gain from making our community the best it can be. I hope to help give people the opportunity to be part of doing that.
“I want to show that politics can be done differently and that working together as a community we can make a real difference to local lives.”
The party received 1.5 percent of votes, but gained a seat.
The Scottish Green Party gained 35 seats across the local authorities in Scotland, representing a gain of 16 seats since the local elections in 2017.