Two Conservatives, an SNP councillor and a Green councillor elected in Forres
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FORRES has elected two Conservative candidates as the Greens pip Labour to the post.
Conservatives Kathleen Robertson and Paul McBain were elected to the Council today, as the ward returned the first Green councillor in Moray history.
During the first round of voting, Labour candidate James Hynam looked likely to squeeze into fourth place, however SNP voters seemed to lift Green candidate Draeyk Van Der Horn to win a Council seat.
Councillor Van Der Horn, who was elected in the sixth stage of voting, said: "It is exciting! Do you know, I had no idea how it was going to go.
"I was happy to just go out there and give people the opportunity to vote Green and just see what happens.
"As it happened, people decided they wanted to vote green!
"I am really excited and really excited to be the first Green councillor in Moray.
"Changing times!"
Forres vet and Conservative Councillor Kathleen Robertson was elected at the first stage.
She said: "I am delighted. It is an honour and a privilege to serve the people of Forres and the wider population of Moray.
"It has been hard work but it has been enjoyable and I have really enjoyed meeting people as I have been out and about.
"I really look forward to working with the new team once we get ourselves sorted out.
"I am looking forward to working with all the other Forres councillors to hopefully make the community happy."
Councillor Paul McBain, also elected as a Conservative candidate for Forres, said: "I am ecstatic – delighted.
"This is my third attempt and I am absolutely overwhelmed to get in at long last.
"It has been a long four months.
"Having put up two candidates, we had to hit the ground running so we have been on the go since late January.
"Kathleen and I have walked through literally every patch in Forres and it is just great to get the reward we got today.
"I am on record saying I am no politician and I will ensure that the people of Forres are who I will serve. They will be first and foremost."
SNP candidate Councillor Scott Lawrence, who received the highest overall number of votes, said: "I am absolutely delighted.
"I just want to thank everybody that voted for me and took the time out of their day to vote for me yesterday and who voted by post as well.
"I am overwhelmed.
"I am delighted to have won the vote and to be elected.
"I have got a lot of things to learn and I will be on a steep learning curve for the next few months and that is what I am looking forward to."
