Every voter in East Dunbartonshire will have the chance to vote for a Green councillor for the first time, with the party fielding candidates in all wards for this May’s local elections.
A local branch meeting at Westerton Hall on Friday last week selected 7 candidates for council seats in East Dunbartonshire. This is the first time there has been a Green candidate in all wards in the council area.
Addressing the meeting, Maggie Chapman, Co-Convener of the Scottish Green Party said;
"I am thrilled that we are standing a full slate of Green candidates in East Dunbartonshire. It shows that we really have gone from strength to strength here, following the election of the West of Scotland’s first Green MSP last year. These local elections are a chance to elect more Greens to create vibrant local economies, protect our public services and put power back in people's hands. I look forward to working with Green Councillors in East Dunbartonshire and across Scotland over the coming five years to deliver fairer, happier and healthier communities."
Scott Ferguson, candidate for Bearsden South, said; “I’m looking forward to getting a positive message out to local people. Having been involved in lots of community activities over the years I know how many people work extremely hard to improve our community. As a councillor I will do what I can, and work constructively with others, to meet the needs and ambitions of residents in Bearsden & Westerton.”
The council elections, which take place on the 4th May, will see more than 200 Green candidates standing across Scotland, a huge jump from the 80 that stood for the party in 2012. The Greens are looking to build on existing councillor numbers in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeenshire, Midlothian and Stirling, and are confident of electing the party's first councillors in East Dunbartonshire.
Full list of candidates:
Bearsden South – Scott Ferguson
Bearsden North – Erin Crawley
Milngavie – Gordon Masterton
Bishopbriggs South – Connor Boyd
Bishopbriggs North and Campsie – Chris Cotton
Kirkintilloch North and East and Twechar – Emma Sheppard
Lenzie and Kirkintilloch South – Carolynn Scrimgeour