PERSONAL STATEMENT
My name is Archie Macdonald. I am standing as an independent council candidate for the Steornabhagh a Deas (Stornoway South) ward in the local authority elections in May. This statement explains my background and experience which will enable me to carry out the role of a councillor effectively.
I was born and raised in Stornoway. After attending business college in Aberdeen, I worked in Stornoway in a local chartered accountancy practice, local authority finance department and then with a local builders’ merchants and hotels group before joining Highlands and Islands Enterprise in 1985, latterly as Area Manager for the Outer Hebrides where, over 33 years, I gained a wealth of experience in economic and community development. I am a qualified accountant. After retiring in 2018, I still wanted to contribute to community affairs, so I joined the board of the Lews Castle College UHI (now called UHI Outer Hebrides), which I now chair. I am also on the board of the Stornoway Port Authority and chair the board of the Gearrannan Trust. I also act as auditor for various local organisations. These are all unpaid voluntary appointments.
In my role at HIE, I worked extensively with business and community groups and with the council on a wide variety of initiatives and projects, so I am fully familiar with the workings of the local authority and other public agencies.
If elected, my priorities will be :-
- to promote economic and community development initiatives, including skills development,
- to give people the best opportunity for employment and to help population retention and growth,
- to ensure that public funds are used in the most cost-effective way for the benefit of the community,
- to represent the ward’s interests to the best of my ability.
I hope this personal statement demonstrates that I have a broad range of experience which will enable me to serve as an effective councillor and ask for your support in the May election.
Thank you.
Archie
Promoted by: Archie Macdonald, 6 Matheson Road, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis HS1 2NQ