Timeline unveiled to replace hate campaign councillor
Council chiefs have released a final plan for the Paisley Southeast byelection set to take place next month.
A poll has been called for Renfrewshire’s ward six to replace disgraced councillor Paul Mack.
The controversial politician had been an elected member for more than 25 years before being banned for a “relentless” hate campaign directed at his colleagues Eddie Devine and Alistair Mackay.
He had his Standards Commission appeal against the 16-month ban thrown out last month after claiming it was “excessive”.
In one email the independent described Councillor Devine as a “white supremacist” and in another he said Councillor Mackay was having “cocktail hour in the piano nobile at The Savoy, quaffing a burra peg and slapping orphans, thinking you’re defying Hitler”.
The council has called a by-election to replace him on Tuesday, December 14, and has now released a timeline of key dates in the run-up to the event.
Labour group leader Councillor Devine and the SNP’s Marie McGurk currently represent the Paisley Southeast ward.
A list of people nominated to replace Mr Mack alongside details of polling stations will be published next Wednesday if there are no objections.
If there are any objections, nominations will be released the following day by 4pm.
Polling will take place between 7am and 10pm on the day with the count taking place at the Lagoon Leisure Centre, in Paisley, directly after voting closes.
People who wish to visit a polling station should ensure they are registered to vote by Thursday, November 25, while the deadline for new postal votes will be the following day at 5pm.
The council has said polling stations will be made safe for people to visit during the ongoing pandemic.
“To ensure the voting process remains safe, we will have appropriate health and safety measures in place at your polling station,” the council said on its website.
“We will ask that masks are worn while moving around the polling station unless you are exempt, and hand sanitiser will be available for you to use.
“The number of people in the polling station at any one time will be limited so please be prepared to queue if you arrive at a busy time and maintain physical distancing at all times.”
The final day for new applications to vote by proxy will be 5pm on Monday, December 6, and emergency proxy applications should be sent in by 5pm on polling day.
You may be able to apply for an emergency proxy due to a disability, work or service reasons, following Scottish Government or medical advice in relation to Covid-19, being detained in a hospital under the Mental Health Act 2003 or being a prisoner serving a sentence of 12 months or less.
Completed postal and proxy applications should be sent to Electoral Registration Office, The Robertson Centre, 16 Glasgow Road, Paisley, PA1 3QF.
The Standards Commission had previously disqualified Mr Mack after he made completely unfounded claims Councillor Devine had influenced council officers into allocating his daughter a house.
The allocation was reviewed by Renfrewshire Council’s chief auditor and then Audit Scotland, which concluded the council property was appropriately let and there was no influence.