BELOW are brief profiles of the six candidates standing for election in the Dunbar and East Linton ward at the East Lothian Council election on Thursday, May 4.
Three of them will be elected.
The Dunbar and East Linton ward is currently represented by one Conservative, one Labour and one SNP councillor.
Candidates are listed below in alphabetical order.
Sarah Beattie-Smith (Greens)
SARAH Beattie-Smith lives in Dunbar and is a Green activist, writer and artist. She works as a policy and communications consultant on energy and climate change and works part-time for a community-led co-operative in Edinburgh. Sarah stood for the Scottish Green Party heading the South Scotland list for Holyrood in 2016, where the party increased its votes by 70 per cent. She is involved in a number of local groups, including Sustaining Dunbar.
Norman Hampshire (Labour)
NORMAN Hampshire is married and has three daughters and three grandchildren. He has owned and managed the Eden Hotel for 28 years. He was first elected as a councillor for Dunbar in 1988 and has served the Dunbar and East Linton ward since 2007. He is the cabinet spokesperson for the environment and housing, with responsibility for planning services as chairman, waste management, parks and countryside, environment services and council housing.
Sue Kempson (Conservative)
DR SUE Kempson came to Scotland 40 years ago to take up a lectureship in anatomy at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies. At the Dick Vet, she enjoyed a fulfilling career teaching students, researching aspects of animal welfare and leading the anatomy group. Since retiring, she has pursued her interest in photography and she is now the president of Haddington Camera Club. She also contributes to the paired reading scheme at Knox Academy.
Isobel Knox (SNP)
ISOBEL Knox has loved living and working in Dunbar over the past 24 years. She said: “The east end of the county is a wonderful environment for kids to grow up in, with excellent schools, a great community spirit and a distinct identity. As a councillor, I will work hard to maintain this. I pledge to apply the same hard work and dedication to being a councillor as I do in my current job, as a pupil support worker and learning assistant at Dunbar Grammar School, and in my community volunteering as secretary of Dunbar Community Woodland Group.”
Paul McLennan (SNP)
PAUL McLennan has lived in Dunbar all his life. He has been a councillor for 10 years. He was leader of East Lothian Council from 2010 to 2012. He has 20 years in the financial sector and 10 in the public sector in leadership positions. In his time as council leader he oversaw investment in the Bleachingfield Centre, 100 new houses at James Court and the new Dunbar Primary School – over £25m of investment. He said: “I am passionate about the Dunbar ward and will work with them to support as best as I can.”
Elisabeth Wilson (Liberal Democrats)
ELISABETH Wilson is an East Lammermuir community councillor, chairwoman of Sustaining Dunbar, and member of the local area partnership. She successfully campaigned with local residents to have the ‘Innerwick loop’ restored for afternoon services of the 253 bus. She said: “I am concerned about the recent withdrawal of respected voluntary organisations from the provision of social care, and am determined to ensure the new Integrated Health and Social Care Board works for the benefit of local people.”
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