Election / Hall ‘so grateful’ after landslide by-election win
ANDREW Hall says he was left feeling “overwhelmed” after comfortably winning the Shetland North council by-election.
The independent candidate secured 887 votes to win the by-election against Natasha Cornick, who received 94.
The by-election had been called due to the resignation of Tom Morton at the end of October.
Hall will join current councillors Emma Macdonald and Andrea Manson in representing Shetland North.
Speaking after the count in Lerwick on Friday morning, Hall – who will now be resigning from his job in the council’s finance department to become an elected member – said he was “totally humbled” by the result.
“I’m so grateful for people voting for me like they have,” he said.
“I’m just delighted, and I just hope I don’t disappoint too many people.”
Hall said he is “looking forward to the challenge” of becoming a councillor.
“Even though I’ve worked for the council’s finance department for 38 years, I do fully appreciate and realise that I’ve got a lot to learn.
“I’m ready for that new challenge, and I will work as hard as I can to represent the whole community.”
A key topic on the radar of Hall as he prepares to step into the council chamber is the proposed new Brae school.
Hall, who lives in Brae, said a new school would be a “massive thing” for the community.
“That will keep us going for many years ahead for the north if a new school was built,” he added.
“Hopefully a new school will help attract people to the area, because we need young people to come to the area.”
He also reiterated his desire to see more houses being built in and around Brae – especially as a new school may be on the horizon.
Hall said some people have left the North Mainland due to not being able to find a house.
Other topics he raised during his campaign included speed limits – Voe being one area of concern in particular – and ensuring Sullom Voe Terminal remains an important local employer.
Voting took place in the Shetland North by-election on Thursday across seven polling stations – North Roe, Hillswick, Brae, Voe, Mossbank, Vidlin and South Nesting.
A total of 2,490 people were registered to vote, and there was a turn out of 39.6 per cent.
The highest turnout of the polling stations was in Brae, with 40.37 per cent – equating to 281 ballot papers being accepted.
The lowest turn out was in Mossbank – 24.33 per cent (73 ballot papers).
There were nearly 300 postal votes cast, with the turnout for those being 68.48 per cent.
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