Graham Leadbitter (SNP), John Divers (Labour) and Peter Bloomfield (Conservatives) elected to represent Elgin City South
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TWO returning and one newly-elected councillor will represent the Elgin City South ward on Moray Council.
Previous council leader Graham Leadbitter (SNP), John Divers (Labour) and Peter Bloomfield (Conservatives) were all elected at phase one of the voting process.
Graham Leadbitter received 1444 votes, John Divers 1142 and Peter Bloomfield 1090.
Michaela French (Independent) got 161 votes, Bernard Salmon (Lib Dems) got 145 and Paul Briggs (Independent) received 101.
The turnout was 40.5 per cent, with 4113 of 10,149 registered voters turning out to cast their ballot.
The political set-up of the ward has remained the same from 2017, when one Labour, Tory and SNP councillor were elected.
Graham Leadbitter said he was "humbled" to have the ward's support for another term.
"I'm really chuffed with the support from the electorate and I'm humbled that they've put their trust in me for another five years," he said.
"It's now a case of the council trying to form an administration. There will be tough conversations with other parties and we will see what comes out of that."
Labour councillor John Divers is set to begin his sixth term as a councillor in Moray.
He said: "I've been a councillor here for 23 years, it was 1999 I started.
"It's brilliant to have a mandate for the sixth time. It's been a bit of a rollercoaster at times.
"I'm delighted there are now three Labour councillors so we can work together to try to push our plans on."
Conservative councillor Peter Bloomfield, who is ex-forces, was pleased to be elected and insisted the electorate will come first for him.
"It feels good," he said. "I can't wait to get started and I thank everybody who voted for me.
"I'm looking forward to working with all parties, I'll work with anybody and that's the way it should be as far as I'm concerned.
"I'm my own man and I will not toe the party line. I'll do what is good for the constituents that voted me in."
