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