Meet the candidates: election page launched

THIRTY two candidates are vying for 22 seats on Shetland Islands Council in May – and you can read the candidates’ election pitches on our dedicated page, launched today (Tuesday).

With only three names put forward for the South Mainland ward, candidates Allison Duncan, Robbie McGregor (the SNP’s first ever councillor in the isles) and George Smith are already guaranteed election.

While the overall number of candidates is down considerably on 2012, there are contests in all of the other six wards.

In the West Mainland, six people put themselves forward for the three seats including three existing councillors. But there are only four candidates for the North Mainland’s three seats, while nine candidates are vying for the seven seats in Lerwick’s two wards.

Ten of the 32 candidates are women – raising hopes that there will be a better gender balance on the new council after just three women were elected back in 2012.

 http://www.shetnews.co.uk/features/election-2017/