Thurso and North West Caithness (ward) facts for kids
Thurso and North West Caithness is a special area in the Highland Council region of Scotland. It's one of the areas, called 'wards', where people vote to choose their local representatives. Think of a ward as a specific neighbourhood or part of a larger region. This ward was created in 2017 because of changes to how voting areas were set up. People living here get to elect four councillors to speak for them at the Highland Council. These councillors help make important decisions about local services and issues in the community.
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Who Are the Councillors for Thurso and North West Caithness?
Councillors are like local leaders who work to improve their area. They listen to what people need and help make decisions about things like schools, roads, parks, and local services. The people elected to represent Thurso and North West Caithness are:
- Matthew Reiss (Independent)
- Struan Mackie (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party)
- Karl Rosie (Scottish National Party)
- Ron Gunn (Scottish Liberal Democrats)
These four people were chosen by voters in the most recent local election.
How Do Elections Work in Thurso and North West Caithness?
Local elections are held every few years to choose who will represent the community on the Highland Council. When you turn 16, you can register to vote in these elections. In Thurso and North West Caithness, people vote for their favourite candidates, and the four candidates with the most support become the new councillors.
The 2022 Election Results
The most recent election for Thurso and North West Caithness happened in 2022. Many people voted to choose their councillors. Here are the candidates who were successfully elected:
- Ron Gunn from the Scottish Liberal Democrats received the most first-choice votes.
- Matthew Reiss (who was already a councillor) was also re-elected as an Independent candidate.
- Struan Mackie (who was also already a councillor) from the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party won a seat.
- Karl Rosie (who was also already a councillor) from the Scottish National Party secured the final spot.
In this election, over 5,100 valid votes were counted. About half of the people who could vote in the area participated, showing that many residents cared about who would represent them.
The 2017 Election Results
The first election for this specific ward took place in 2017. This was when the new ward boundaries were introduced. In that election, the following candidates were chosen by the voters:
- Matthew Reiss (Independent)
- Struan Mackie (Scottish Conservatives)
- Donnie MacKay (Independent)
- Karl Rosie (Scottish National Party)
Over 5,200 valid votes were cast in 2017, with a similar number of people participating as in 2022.
