Current situation 2013

This personal website gives a brief insight into the personal profile of Maxine and the background that led her to politics and community work, with examples of her efforts for her local area and her experience in politics, community life and council work over the last 15 years, from 1992 when she first became involved in rescuing Newmore Primary School from its threatened closure and again in 1997 when she fought with hundreds of other parents in Ross & Cromarty to retain their small primary schools from the Council's axe. In 1998 five schools were reprieved locally - Tore, Mulbuie, Inverasdale, Newmore and Daviot and in Lochaber  a 6th - Roy Bridge.   Maxine insisted on a policy of no school closures against the wishes of the local community.  Small schools and small teacher to pupil ratios are important in formulating youngsters' early years.

The new  Cromarty Firth Ward 7 incorporates Evanton, Alness, Ardross, Newmore, Kindeace and Invergordon - approximately 8,000 constituents.  This multi-member ward will have 4 elected Highland Councillors to serve it and who will be elected under the Single Transferrable Voting System (STV).

Maxine's message: I have been involved in community and political life since 1992 when I first became involved in saving Newmore Primary from closure and again in 1997. I joined the SNP in 1998 as they had been instrumental in backing the parents. I have been on different voluntary groups such as the Invergordon Community Council, Association, School Boards, Tourism Group, Flowers Squad and so on. I am still active on several and chair the Business Association and the Environment Group. I spend many hours a week on community work because I love helping others, which is why I stood for Council for the third time.

I stood for election in 1999 and 2003 as an Independent but although I came second last time I was beaten by Cllr. John Connell. I am however a determined, strong-willed, hard-working individual and would hope that the voters have seen the tenacity I have shown in the last decade in giving fully to community life. I know I can make a huge difference if given the chance to do so and am happy to work alongside other hard-working councillors to make this new Cromarty Firth Ward a better place for us all to live and work.

New Cromarty Firth Ward

This is made up of an area of over 8,000 people. Although most of my work has been centred on Invergordon or Newmore I am the kind of person who does everything to the best of my ability. I have spent a lifetime serving the public, first in my role in the Council’s Education Department when I lived in Inverness in 1981, to my beauty business which began in this area when I moved to Ross & Cromarty in 1987. For 20 years I have served this area in one way or another. All I ask now is that you elect me on May 3rd for your Councillor, so that with that authority I can make a REAL difference to improve things for you in the Firth.

My children are now grown up and my son, David is an engineer in Glasgow with SSE, in charge of windfarm projects and my daughter manages our Alness beauty salon, Venus on the High Street, she is 21 and called Hayley.