Five candidates have thrown their hats in the ring ahead of a by-election in South Kintyre.
Following Councillor Donald Kelly’s resignation in August, Argyll and Bute Council is holding a by-election on November 2 to elect one councillor in the ward.
The winning candidate will serve alongside the ward’s two current councillors, Councillor John Armour (Scottish National Party) and Councillor Tommy Macpherson (Independent).
We asked the candidates vying for the single seat to introduce themselves and tell us what their top priorities will be if they are elected.
Joe Cunningham (Scottish Conservative and Unionist)
Living and working as a self-employed gas engineer throughout Argyll and Bute has given me deep insight into the needs and aspirations of South Kintyre.
I’ve witnessed the unique challenges and unmatched opportunities that this region presents. South Kintyre, with its rich history and dynamic community, has drawn me with a call to serve, and I believe I can offer strong representation that truly resonates with local spirit and aspirations.
In every council decision, the voice of South Kintyre’s community must be a guiding force, ensuring the community’s needs, hopes and concerns are acknowledged.
As your potential councillor, I promise to ensure that this voice is not only heard or campaigned on, but becomes instrumental in change and investment in the area.
Education is the cornerstone of any thriving community and the bridge to our future. I am committed to working collaboratively with parents, administration colleagues and our education teams, to champion significant investments in our early years facilities and schools, as well as developing a robust support system and facilities for children with additional support needs, to lay down a strong foundation for the future of our young people and make sure no one is left behind.
Our seniors, the pillars of our community, must be enveloped in care and respect. The recent acquisition of Kintyre Care Centre was welcome news and fundamental to our care for our elderly, which I will continue to advocate for.
It’s clear that health and social care is pivotal for everyone, regardless of age. I pledge to champion comprehensive health services and social support, ensuring every individual, from our youngest to our oldest, lives with dignity and has access to the care they need and deserve.
Consideration must be given to addressing infrastructural challenges to South Kintyre, notably the Rest and Be Thankful, a long-standing challenge, which requires innovative engineering solutions that offer a permanent solution.
As I begin this hopeful journey, fuelled by a vision of transformative leadership for South Kintyre, I ask for your trust, your belief and your support.
A vote for me, is a vote for South Kintyre in creating a promising future, ensuring it thrives and prospers in the years to come.
Jennifer Kelly (Independent)
I am 29 and live in Campbeltown with my fiancé. I attended Drumlemble Primary School and Campbeltown Grammar School.
I hold a BA (Hons) in Law and Politics and LLB (Bachelor of Laws). I have worked locally as a shop assistant, waitress, an administrative officer for the court, as part of the fraud team for Trading Standards and as a paralegal for two different solicitors firms – Stewart Balfour & Sutherland and Gilson Gray. I currently work as a pest technician with my family business, Kintyre Vermin Pest Control.
Local politics/issues have been at the heart of my family life during my dad, Donald Kelly’s, 22 years of service as a councillor for South Kintyre. I would be honoured to be given the opportunity to fill his very big shoes by continuing to support the projects he has already started, prior to leaving, as well as advocating for the future of South Kintyre in my own right.
As a young, local person who has grown up in South Kintyre, I am incredibly passionate about the future of our area and the potential it has.
There is so much currently in the pipeline for Kintyre, however, I am very aware of the lack of infrastructure in place to support all the new potential projects and businesses trying to set up here and I am keen to do whatever I can to address this and improve the area for all who live here and our future generations.
If elected, my main priorities will be to campaign for: a new primary school for Campbeltown; improvements to all travel links to Kintyre – road, sea and air; improvements and upgrades to all local play parks and accessible equipment for all children; much-needed more affordable housing to be developed in the area; and improvements to the exterior of prominent buildings within the area such as the Victoria Hall, Aqualibrium, the Old Post Office building and others.
I will push for improvements to the traffic management system in Campbeltown and for additional cemetery provision to meet the needs of the local community.
Vote local – vote Kelly 1.
Kenny MacKenzie (Scottish Liberal Democrats)
I have lived and worked in Campbeltown for the past 10 years.
Although I have worked previously at both CS Wind and in the Kintyre Care Centre, for the past two years I have been a chef at one of the town’s busy hotels.
Working daily in the hospitality sector, I understand at first hand the problems faced by all businesses in the district who depend on tourism, and specifically the impact of ferry cancellations or road closures on the economic lifeblood of the community. Addressing these problems would be my first priorities.
My wife Daphne works in the town too, as a carer at the council-owned Kintyre Care Centre, so I am well aware of the pressures on adult social care within Argyll and Bute and specifically in Kintyre. Some of you will also have met our wee girl Erphy who attends Dalintober Primary School and the Taekwondo club.
As a citizen, a motorist and as a parent, the council touches my life in many different ways, and the same thing will be true for you. I believe it is important that there is a strong voice for South Kintyre on the council and clearly it should be someone who lives and works locally.
I have an MA (Hons) from the University of Edinburgh, and previously worked for Reuters in many different parts of the world including London, New York and Hong Kong, before returning to Scotland.
I am no stranger to financial planning and delivering results in a fast-moving, business environment.
I look forward to applying my skills and experience in the service of the people of the whole district of South Kintyre.
In particular, I want to see that Campbeltown and the outlying villages all get their fair share of investment.
I am also in favour of traffic-calming measures on various roads in the ward including the main road into Machrihanish and Kilkerran Road in Campbeltown.
But, above all, I promise to be an engaged and responsive councillor reflecting the concerns of the people of the ward.
Alan McManus (For Future’s Sake – Freedom Alliance)
I’m Dr Alan McManus – PhD not MD – sadly not the celebrated snooker player!
A Lowlander with Highland connections, after working in care homes and hospitality while studying, I taught English abroad for years, then RE in schools around Glasgow.
I’ve managed English language summer schools, mostly for Italians, and the Retreat Programme on Iona, as well as a stint on Skye as a hotel general assistant – while I made a pretty poor job of learning the native language of my grandparents.
I left the islands to look after my elderly mother in East Dunbartonshire and, already being a keen dinghy sailor, learned to sail a yacht during lockdown.
My wee junk-rig is moored in Portavadie and I often sail on lovely Loch Fyne. I’ve taught in two Scottish universities and my work now is mostly in proofreading.
I write books on spirituality and ethics, as well as novels, I’m working on a detective story for young adults and studying for a degree in law.
Recent events have caused an unprecedented situation worldwide, with massive government overreach into the lives of citizens and an erosion of civil liberties.
Surveillance and censorship are on the rise with fringe and big business agendas being pushed to the detriment of the rights of the most vulnerable in society: women, children and the elderly.
In the name of ‘inclusion’, religious people are told to shut up and even being arrested for preaching the Gospel and praying in public! I’m all for equality and diversity but that must apply across the board.
Meanwhile, traditional livelihoods like farming and fishing are being threatened by spiralling prices and lack of commercial infrastructure – even more lorries over the Rest is not the answer – we need ferries!
I want to listen to the people of this lovely location and make sure that their solutions are heard in council and relayed to Holyrood.
John Richardson (Scottish National Party)
Hello everyone, I’m John Richardson, a newcomer to South Kintyre with my family. We made the move from England nearly four years ago, having been frequent visitors for years and building many friendships. We fell in love with this beautiful place and decided to make Campbeltown our home.
I’m a local business owner, deeply invested in the well-being and success of South Kintyre.
My professional background mainly involved governance within large organisations, government departments and managing complex projects, all providing me with a wealth of experience.
I pledge to focus on key issues that matter most to you.
I’ll collaborate with the SNP and colleagues to shift council powers to local committees, ensuring your voice is heard in decision-making.
Road repairs will be a top priority, driven by our community’s needs and priorities, with my active lobbying at the council and I’ll be pushing for progress on the A83 and Rest and Be Thankful too.
The safety and well-being of our students, teachers, parents, and carers are paramount. I’ll champion the modernisation and immediate repairs of our primary schools.
With the SNP securing new ferries, I’ll work to ensure Campbeltown benefits from the expanded network, boosting our local economy, jobs and trade.
Addressing the housing emergency declared by the council is a top priority. I’ll collaborate with local partnerships and the council to provide more affordable housing, keeping families together.
I’ll work alongside Councillor John Armour and the council to expedite the planned pedestrian crossings on Aqualibrium Avenue, improving safety for all.
I’ll advocate for a more accessible town for all, including mobility scooters and pushchairs, by lowering kerbs and conducting a study to identify needs.
All these initiatives require a candidate with a vested interest in the area’s success, strong communication skills, and experience dealing with large organisations like the council and parts of the government.
I meet all these requirements, but I can’t make a difference without your vote. Please vote for Richardson on November 2, and let’s work together to build a better South Kintyre for everyone.
Your priorities matter to me. Together, let’s build a better South Kintyre for all.