Voters in Kirkcaldy East will head to the polls next month with a spring in their step.
The past five years have given residents plenty to shout about, including a brand new secondary school, library and sports facilities at Windmill Community Campus and new housing in the Gallatown area and in Dysart.
But despite all of this there remains many concerns for voters as they prepare to cast their ballots.
In 2016 the ward had two data zones listed in the top 5% of deprived areas in Scotland, and there remains a further need for more new homes and job opportunities.
The ward is home to dozens of independent businesses, particularly within Kirkcaldy’s busy St Clair Street, and employers will want to return councillors keen to lobby the Scottish Government into reducing business rates and supporting small enterprise.
The past five years have seen a considerable change in the political make-up of the ward, which has traditionally been a Labour Party stronghold.
The SNP is currently not represented, despite having two councillors returned in the past term, with Arthur Morrison resigning in October 2014, and his replacement, Marie Penman, leaving the party to continue as an independent.
Labour’s Lawrence Brown is standing down, while his party colleague Kay Carrington passed away following a cancer battle in November.
Candidate profiles
The Courier invited each candidate to submit a short introduction to themselves and, if they wished, a video explaining why they deserve your vote.
Ian Cameron (Labour)
I am Kirkcaldy born and bred as are generations of my family, including my father, ex-councillor Jock Cameron.
I am a family man with three grown-up children and understand the difficulties young people face.
I have worked at a senior management level in education dealing with budgets and funding and helping to create an opportunity framework for people of all ages.
Working as a small business advisor I helped businesses grow and create jobs. I was chair of the primary school board and civilian chair of Kirkcaldy Air Cadets (1192 Squadron) for seven years.
I have always believed in respect and opportunity for all and it is the growing social injustice brought about by the poor management of resources, especially in the NHS, and the austerity that followed that makes me want to make a difference.
Mhairi Cameron (Labour)
As a young person growing up in Kirkcaldy I am fully aware of the challenges that the average young person faces such as getting a job, low-wage jobs, meaningful training, zero hour contracts.
Many young people are leaving Fife for work and that has to be stopped.
I have volunteered with the YMCA and Age Concern.
This has helped to give me a fuller understanding of the issues facing both young people and our elderly.
I want to start building a relationship with my community. I believe strongly that young people should get involved in politics as we all need to take a part in shaping our future.
Rod Cavanagh (SNP)
I came to live in Fife with my family at the start of my career with Fife Constabulary.
During the course of my police service, I have lived in Cowdenbeath, Glenrothes and Kirkcaldy, where we still live down at the harbour.
We have two children both of whom are now adults.
Before joining the police, I served eight years in the Marines and this inspired my healthy lifestyle and love of travel.
My interests also include running, hill walking, DIY, folk music and I play the pipes.
Sandy Forbes (Green)
Brought up in Kirkcaldy East, Mr Forbes worked in the ward for more than 30 years as a health professional and trade union representative.
As an active volunteer with a long history of voluntary work in the community, he was recognised as one of Fife’s community heroes in 2010.
Mr Forbes said: “I believe that the communities in Kirkcaldy East and Dysart deserve a bold Green voice on Fife Council.
“My priority is to be a progressive voice on local issues pushing for strong public services and improving our environment.”
Steve McMahon (SNP)
Originally from Glenrothes, I moved to Kirkcaldy East some years ago after I left the Royal Navy. Since then I have set down roots in Kirkcaldy East where I live with my partner and our daughter.
I’m currently a recovery supervisor on the railway, I worked in the factories before that and I was an engineer for most of my time in the navy.
I started off on this road writing angry letters and soon began to take a more active role, I worked with the efforts establish a community council in Kirkcaldy East recently, I’m also involved with the Forth hovercraft campaign.
Marie Penman (independent)
Want my advice? In local elections, vote for the person, not the political party.
Party politics shouldn’t come into it at local government level – it’s about standing up for your constituents, not your party HQ.
Aren’t you sick of Labour and the SNP fighting all the time?
As councillor for Kirkcaldy East, I work hard, I have 100% attendance at area committee and full council meetings, hold weekly surgeries, give a quick response to all emails and calls, don’t claim any expenses, and am a board member at Kirkcaldy Foodbank.
Kirkcaldy East matters to me, political parties don’t. Vote independent.
Matthew Ritchie (independent)
I have decided to stand as an independent candidate at the local elections because I am concerned about the impact government cuts are having on our community.
In the main, it is families have born the brunt of these cuts, with child poverty currently at 40% in east Kirkcaldy.
We have seen a steady erosion of essential services, which have impacted greatly on the quality of life of everyone in our community, and I want to do something about this.
I want to ensure everyone has a voice in our community, and that they can play an active part in change for the better.
Stephen Rottger (Lib Dem)
Stephen Rottger is standing in the Kirkcaldy East ward for the Scottish Liberal Democrats and did not respond to The Courier’s request for information.
Richard Watt (Conservative)
Fife has been my home for 29 of my 31 years on this planet after a short break teaching abroad.
I’ve worked in the cleansing department at the council and was brought up in a house of public servants.
Currently working for a local business I’m hoping that I can serve the people of Kirkcaldy and Fife in general by using the examples of Adam Smith to improve the way that the council serves the local community.
