Electing South Lanarkshire's first Green Councillors this May will herald in fresh faces, new ideas and people committed to putting power in the hands of local communities to protect local servicesKirsten Robb and Janet Moxley
Local Greens are gearing up to make a breakthrough to South Lanarkshire Council as they launched their local election campaign and announced prospective candidates, at an action day over the weekend. Candidates are standing in all but one ward and are:
| WARD | CANDIDATE |
| Clydesdale West | Mandy Meikle |
| Clydesdale North | Ryan Doherty |
| Clydesdale East | Janet Moxley |
| Clydesdale South | Craig Dalzell |
| Avondale and Stonehouse | Erica Young |
| East Kilbride South | Ruth Thomas |
| East Kilbride Central South | Iain Hughes |
| East Kilbride Central North | James Thornbury |
| East Kilbride West | Billy McLean |
| East Kilbride East | Kirsten Robb |
| Rutherglen South | Brian Finlay |
| Rutherglen Central and North | Raymond Burke |
| Cambuslang West | David McClemont |
| Cambuslang East | Laura Martin |
| Bothwell and Uddingston | Jim Ferguson |
| Hamilton North and East | Steven Hannigan |
| Hamilton West and Earnock | Christine Wright |
| Hamilton South | John Kane |
| Larkhall | Robert Bulloch |
Co-convenor of the Scottish Green Party, Patrick Harvie (pictured), joined candidates out on the doorsteps and rallied supporters for the campaign ahead. Greens will be standing in the vast majority of South Lanarkshire wards, aiming to elect their first councillors and play a key role in a new South Lanarkshire Council.
At the last council elections in 2012, the Greens won fourteen councillors on five of Scotland's 32 local authorities, just missing out on winning a seat in South Lanarkshire.
Patrick said, "Green MSPs have demonstrated their commitment to protecting local services, by securing an extra £160million from the Scottish Government for councils to spend on local priorities. It’s this bold and constructive approach that more Green councillors will bring to our local authorities.”
Two of the candidates, Kirsten Robb and Janet Moxely, commented, "We're delighted to be joined by such a strong field of candidates. Where there are already Green Councillors on local authorities they have put forward proposals to address local priorities in their budget setting process. Now that Green MSP action in the Scottish Parliament has removed £9.4 million of proposed cuts to local services in South Lanarkshire, we hope the council ensures that the budget they set delivers the things which matter to local people including excellent education for all our pupils; high quality care for those who need it, warm, affordable homes and joined up public transport. Electing South Lanarkshire's first Green Councillors this May will herald in fresh faces, new ideas and people committed to putting power in the hands of local communities to protect local services."