‘Honour’ to represent local people on council
Two new faces will flag the flag for Strathallan on Perth and Kinross Council.
Among them is the SNP’s Steven Carr, who was elected at the fourth stage of Friday’s count.
The electrical engineer works in the security industry is also the chair of the Dnipro Kids charity – an organisation founded in 2005 that supports orphans in the Ukrainian city of Dnipro.
Since the outbreak of war in Ukraine, he has worked tirelessly to bring 50 orphaned children from Dnipro to Scotland – a campaign that was ultimately approved by the UK Home Secretary.
At the count, Cllr Carr said: “It feels good and I am looking forward to getting involved and carrying out my duties as a councillor. I will concentrate on doing the best I can do.”
Also among the new intake is Conservative Keith Allan, an Auchterarder-based businessman heavily involved with local groups.
His success was confirmed at the first stage.
Cllr Allan was unable to attend the count as he had committed to being at a family event abroad prior to being selected as a candidate.
Afterwards, he said:“I am absolutely blown away by the number of votes I received.
“To win with such a resounding margin is a clear message that the good people of the Strathallan ward are not remotely interested in a divisive SNP referendum.
“Let’s deal with the real priorities – those of the local people of the Perth and Kinross Council catchment area, and not nationalist agendas, which have no bearing on people’s wishes locally.
“I believe that this is what the election was about. I will certainly stand up for local people over the coming five years.”
Familiar face Crawford Reid was re-elected to serve a second term at the fourth stage.
The retired NHS consultant, who returned to work during the Covid-19 crisis, told the Herald:“My first reaction is one of deep gratitude to the voters of Strathallan.
“It is an honour and privilege to be their representative, and I shall strive hard to represent them as best I can.
“Due to commitments to the NHS and having to isolate due to Covid, my own campaigning was limited.
“There were many who helped, but I would like to thank Gavin McWhirter, Liz Smith, Luke Graham and Gerry Fyffe, in particular, along with fellow candidate and now councillor Keith Allan.
“I would also thank
Caroline Shiers and Graham Reece from the [Scottish Conservatives’] Association for their enthusiasm and encouragement.”
Cllr Reid continued:“It has been a difficult campaign for the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party.
“We have been handicapped by a Prime Minister who is not fit for office.
“Unfortunately, the party has only realised this when he has become an electoral liability. I expected better of my party – we need to demonstrate honesty and integrity to the country.
“This distraction has allowed the SNP to, yet again, avoid proper scrutiny of their woeful record in power.
“They have overseen failure in every single aspect of their government.
“Unfortunately it seems that, despite all their many failures, the SNP are able to persuade a large proportion that an independent
Scotland is a better place than a Scotland which is an equal partner in the United Kingdom.
“Perhaps if the full details of what independence were known, the people of Scotland could make a proper and fully informed decision.
“We could then judge the present SNP government on its dreadful record over the past 15 years.”
The amount of votes required for a candidate to be elected was 1197.