A FORMER Thurso councillor is returning to the fray as Caithness Labour prepares to contest all three local wards in the upcoming Highland Council elections.
Roger Saxon, who served as a councillor for eight years, is hoping for a return to local politics.
He believes that community leadership has been "woefully lacking in the last few years" and wants to see decisions brought back to local level.
He said: "We need local councillors who work together for Caithness. Councillors need to listen more, speak up
more and explain decisions more effectively.
"I believe the only point in gaining power is the ability to give it away, a lesson the current centralising Scottish Government would do well to learn.
"I’m calling this a ‘new localism’ which includes bringing democracy home; increasing local employment; encouraging local produce and buying locally; empowering communities by devolving decisions and improving the environment by reducing waste, with more recycling and reuse."
Mr Saxon is involved with a number of community groups, including HomeAid, Caithness FM, Thurso Youth Club, Pentland Community Enterprises, Horizons Collections Trust, Thurso Rotary Club and the Thurso-Brilon twining committee. He is also active in his trade union.
Contesting the Wick ward will be Neil MacDonald, who stood in last year’s by-election.
An active union member and a team leader in the Wick Co-op, Mr MacDonald will be highlighting road safety as part of his campaign after losing two young colleagues in a car accident.
He said: "I’ve gained experience and support from standing in two previous positive campaigns.
My father was a Highland councillor for many years so maybe it’s in the blood.
"I want to represent Wick as I feel the town is lacking a councillor who is approachable, listens to issues and speaks out for what the residents are saying."
Contesting Landward Caithness is David Baron, a former teacher and Lancashire county councillor who has lived with his wife, Susan, in Halkirk for the past three years.
Mr Baron served as a councillor for 17 years, during which time he was directly involved with major industrial development as well as representing the daily needs of residents.
He said: "After 30 years of teaching and lecturing in secondary schools and colleges, I have a feel for grass-roots issues. In my role on Lancashire County Council, I was responsible for a revenue budget of £750 million, giving me a real insight into the macro-economics of an education service. As chairman of governors of a small primary school for 17 years and a large community secondary school for 13 years I am also fully conversant with the budgetary pressures on all schools.
"I feel it is vital that decisions regarding local schools should be taken at school level by an extended parent council with total budgetary control.
"As a district councillor I saw devolved budgets giving power and responsibility to local councillors."
The election will take place on May 3.
