Inverness South by-election result

The seven-cornered by-election for Inverness South (Ward 20) on The Highland Council has resulted in a victory for Mrs Carolyn Caddick, Scottish Liberal Democrats.

The turn out was 26.8% and the total number of valid votes cast was 2,607.

The by-election was held following the resignation of John Holden (Labour).

Mrs Caddick joins Councillors Jim Crawford (Independent Members Group), Roy Pedersen (SNP) and Thomas Prag (Liberal Democrat) in representing Ward 20 on the Council.

The make up of the Council (80 members) now is :  Independent, 25 members;  Liberal Democrat, 21 members; SNP, 17 members; Labour, 6 members;  Independent Members Group, 6; and Independent Alliance Group, 4, 1 non-aligned.

The count was held at Inverness Town Hall.

David McGrath (Independent), was eliminated at the end of stage one, with 94votes.   

His votes were then redistributed and Donald Boyd (Scottish Christian Party “Proclaiming Christ’s Lordship”) was eliminated at the end of stage 2 with 130 votes.

Gale Falconer (Scottish Green Party) was eliminated at stage 3 with 189 votes.

David Bonsor  (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party)  was eliminated at the end of stage 4 with 339 votes.

Katherine Mackenzie (Scottish Labour Party) was eliminated at the end of stage 5 with 379 votes.

At the final stage, there was a re-count of votes. At the end, Mrs Caddick had 1,091 votes, and Ken Gowans (SNP) had 1,084 votes.