Election special: Meet the candidates
| Published date | 29 April 2022 |
| Publication title | Dumfries & Galloway Standard |
Living with my family in Moffat I share the sense of pride most residents have in our communities.
But, unfortunately, too many local services have deteriorated under the outgoing Labour/ SNP council's control.
Big-ticket projects in Dumfries, sometimes beset by problems, have coincided with declining services and local authority jobs in more rural areas like Annandale North.
I'm strongly motivated to stand as councillor on my platform of prudent and effective oversight of our vital regional services whilst - importantly - providing a strong voice for the local communities I seek to represent.
Educated at Moffat Academy and Dumfries and Galloway College, my career has provided a good grounding in various sectors, including forestry. My 18 years' experience working as a full-time advisor at Citizens Advice, where I've dealt with wide-ranging issues, also stands me in good stead, as does my current role as a full-time case-worker for the local MP.
My lengthy priority list includes better roads, fewer potholes, improved education, more community-focused policing, local parks investment, expanded public transport and less centralisation.
I am a retired police officer and currently run my own business and am married with two grown-up sons who currently live and work in London and Glasgow.
I won the 2016 Annandale by-election and then went on to be re-elected in the 2017 council elections serving for a further five years until the current term.
Living and working locally I fully understand the needs of rural communities and since being elected in 2017 I have delivered on my commitments and have been a strong voice for Annandale North.
I have been lead for education, police, fire and have been group deputy leader for the last four years.
I believe in back to basics and if re-elected will ensure residents get the services they deserve and pay for and no more neglect or excuses.
It has been a privilege to serve as your councillor and if re-elected I will continue to be a strong voice on the issues that really matter to you.
I live and farm near Ecclefechan with my husband Andrew, and have raised my now grown-up family in Annandale North, as such I clearly understand the issues and challenges our communities face every day.
I am incredibly passionate about the area we live in and will work tirelessly for you. I know it has been a difficult two years for many and as we move out of the pandemic, focus must now turn to recovery and ensuring the vital services we all rely on are fit for purpose. Local services must truly be local.
I pledge to fight for greater investment in social care and resources to assist pupils who need to catch up on their learning.
As a matter of urgency, I will address the perilous state of our roads and offer meaningful support for our small, independent retail, agricultural and hospitality businesses who alongside our amazing community groups are the lifeblood of our communities.
I offer you a caring local representative who will always fight your corner.
It has been my privilege to represent Annandale North since first being elected in 2012.
If re-elected I will continue to make sure the cares and concerns of constituents are properly represented in decisions affecting them.
In education I will support expanding free school meal provision, support children and young people's mental and physical wellbeing, and maintain two teachers for schools with more than 19 pupils.
I will work to improve health and social care services to meet local needs through our partnership, including supporting the role of social work in the new national care service.
I will work with council, housing providers, and community groups to look after our parks and public spaces so...
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