Ex-councillor warns Buckie by-election hopefuls it’s not a part-time job
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A former Buckie councillor is warning the candidates at next month’s by-election that they'd better be prepared for the demands of the job.
The by-election is being called a fortnight from now following the resignation of Christopher Price after just 103 days.
Back in May the Liberal Democrat was one of only three candidates who put their names forward to stand in Buckie.
As there were only three seats, he was subsequently appointed to the council without facing a vote.
However Mr Price then experienced difficulties in managing his job as a travel clerk with the Ministry of Defence along with his council duties.
Feeling unable to give his best to the people of Buckie, he submitted his resignation.
Gordon Cowie, who represented Buckie as an independent for eight years before stepping down in May is warning the candidates they should be prepared for the workload – as well as the abuse that may come their way.
He said: "The council is a full-time job. You can’t have another job and do it – it doesn’t work.
"I just hope the candidates have considered that and don’t think it’s going to be part-time.
"If I’d stood again I would be nearly 80 by the end of the term – it’s a younger person’s game."
Although Mr Cowie felt he had grown too old, his main reason for not standing again was the abuse to which he and his family were subjected during the later years of his tenure.
The police carried out an investigation after hate mail was received, but the culprit was not found.
Meanwhile, Mr Cowie faced accusations that he breached the councillors’ code of conduct for not declaring an interest at a planning appeal hearing in March 2021.
However the Standards Commission for Scotland found no evidence that the code had been broken and it was neither "necessary or appropriate" to take the matter further.
Mr Cowie said: "It can be very difficult – you can’t please everybody all the time.
"And for those who don’t want something done there will be a lot of folk who do – it’s a juggling exercise."
The by-election will be held on Thursday, November 3, with the count taking place in the town’s Fishermen’s Hall the following day.
The five candidates up for election are:
- Tim Eagle, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Keighly Goudie, Scottish Labour Party
- Neil Houlden, unaffiliated
- John Stuart, SNP
- Les Tarr, Liberal Democrat
