The candidates for next month’s Kilmarnock West and Crosshouse and Doon Valley by-elections have been revealed.
The by-elections were sparked byJuly’s general election victories in the Kilmarnock and Loudoun and Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock constituencies for then Labour councillors Lillian Jones and Elaine Stewart.
The ballots are set for Thursday, November 14, one of the last of the votes forced by Scottish councillors stepping down to begin their Westminster careers.
Kilmarnock West and Crosshouse voters will have a choice of five candidates, four from the main parties and one independent.
The Doon Valley sees a bigger choice for voters, with seven candidates, including two independents.
The ruling SNP group has 14 of the 32 elected members on East Ayrshire Council.
With the loss of two former councillors to Westminster, Labour currently have eight councillors, with the Conservatives having four elected members.
There are also four Independent, or single party members, making up the remainder of East Ayrshire’s council contingent.
Kilmarnock West and Crosshouse
- Allan MacDonald (Scottish Conservative
- Lee Manley (Scottish Liberal Democrats)
- Stephen McNamara (Independent)
- Marie Robertson (SNP)
- Jayne Sangster (Scottish National Party)
Doon Valley
- Tracey Clark (Scottish Conservatives)
- Trevor Grant (Scottish Liberal Democrats)
- Jim Ireland (Independent)
- Jim Kyle (Scottish Labour)
- Stef McNamara (Independent)
- Lorraine Pollock (Scottish National Party)
- Korin Vallance (Scottish Greens)
A number of the candidates have previously stood for office or are known for community activities.
Conservative Allan MacDonald stood in Kilmarnock North in the 2022 local election, and Independent Stephen McNamara was initially a Reform UK candidate for Kilmarnock and Loudoun in July’s general election, but was suspended over alleged comments on trans people.
He eventually stood, unsuccessfully, as an independent.
Jayne Sangster is best known as a campaigner for children with additional support needs. In the Doon Valley Lib Dem Candidate Trevor Grant stood in the Kilmarnock East and Hurlford ward in 2022.
Jim Kyle is the husband of sitting Labour Councillor June Kyle, while independent candidate Stef McNamara is the wife of Stephen McNamara, who is contesting the other by-election on the 14th November.
Korin Vallance stood as the Scottish Green Party candidate in Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock in July.