News / More prospective councillors
TWO former council education managers have thrown their hat into the ring to stand as independent candidates in the upcoming local government election.
George Smith, from Sandwick, who retired from the council as head of Shetland College after almost 30 years with local authority, will stand for the Shetland South ward.
Jim Reyner, from Muckle Roe, who worked for Shetland Islands Council as schools services quality improvement manager and was seconded to be chair of the skills and learning partnership until December 2011, will stand for the Shetland North ward.
Mr Smith said that in his view partnership working, openness and honesty were the key measures needed for the council to be able to continue delivering high quality services.
“This will require a deal of strategic thinking and leadership to ensure our reducing financial resources are used as effectively as possible. I am absolutely committed to working with others in that fashion should I be elected.
“It will be important for the new council to be a ‘listening’ council, taking on board community views in an inclusive way but, at the same time, providing strong and decisive leadership.
“This will ensure that the new council gets things done. I want to see a fair and reasonable council taking responsible decisions for the good of the whole of Shetland,” Mr Smith said.
Mr Reyner said that he was “passionate” about “doing what is right for Shetland and Shetlanders”.
He said: “There have been far too many negative stories in the press lately – we have to accept that we are no longer the wealthy authority of the oil boom days, but we must avoid the temptation to throw out everything that is so good about Shetland, simply to save money in the short term.
“The future of our services for our most vulnerable groups, including the vitally important voluntary sector, will be at risk unless a more positive and pragmatic approach to solving our problems is adopted.”
He added: “What we need now is a council that is absolutely transparent in what it intends to do, why it intends to do it and, crucially, how it intends to do it. I believe that Shetlanders will support a council that works as a team in an atmosphere of openness and honesty, even when difficult decisions need to be made.”
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