 | 'In this ward in 1999 we polled 21 per cent of the vote. In 2003 it was 29 per cent and now up to 33 per cent.' SNP Cllr and Council Leader David Alexander, 30 th March 2004. |  |
| 'In this ward in 1999 we polled 21 per cent of the vote. In 2003 it was 29 per cent and now up to 33 per cent.' SNP Cllr and Council Leader David Alexander, 30 th March 2004. | |
There was a by-election for the Town Centre ward of Falkirk Council on the 25 th of March 2004 following the death of Cllr James Short in January 2004.
Town Centre is in the new Falkirk Westminster parliamentary seat (held by Labour's Major Eric Joyce MP) and in the Falkirk West Scottish parliamentary seat (held by Independent Dennis Canavan MSP).
| 25 th March 2004 By-election Turnout 44.2 % (- 10.6 %) | |||||
| Candidate | Logo | Party | Votes | % | % change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pat Reid |  |
Labour | 594 | 38.8 % | - 4.3 % |
| James Anderson |  |
Scottish National Party | 506 | 33.1 % | + 3.8 % |
| Alison Harris |  |
Conservative | 241 | 15.8 % | - 1.8 % |
| James Nimmo |  |
Scottish Senior Citizen's Unity Party | 92 | 6.0 % | (+ 6.0 %) |
| Alan Watson |  |
Liberal Democrat | 58 | 3.8 % | - 6.2 % |
| Mhairi McAlpine |  |
Scotish Socialist Party | 39 | 2.6 % | (+ 2.6 %) |
| Labour hold | |
Labour majority | 88 | 5.8 % | - 8.1 % |
| 1 st May 2003 Turnout 55.5 % (- 8.1 %) | |||||
| Candidate | Logo | Party | Votes | % | % change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cllr James Short | |
Labour | 881 | 43.1 % | + 4.1 % |
| James Anderson | |
Scottish National Party | 551 | 29.3 % | + 7.6 % |
| Clifford Owen | |
Conservative | 331 | 17.6 % | - 3.3 % |
| Alan Watson | |
Liberal Democrat | 187 | 10.0 % | + 2.1 % |
| Labour hold | |
Labour majority | 260 | 13.8 % | - 3.5 % |
| 6 th May 1999 Turnout 63.6 % (+ 8.6 %) | |||||
| Candidate | Logo | Party | Votes | % | % change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cllr James Short | |
Labour | 912 | 39.1 % | - 24.7 % |
| James Anderson | |
Scottish National Party | 508 | 21.8 % | + 0.5 % |
| Alistair Hislop | |
Conservative | 488 | 20.9 % | + 6.0 % |
| Robert Adams |  |
Independent | 244 | 10.5 % | (+ 10.5 %) |
| Alan Watson | |
Liberal Democrat | 183 | 7.8 % | (+ 7.8 % |
| Labour hold | |
Labour majority | 404 | 17.3 % | - 25.2 % |
| 6 th April 1995 Turnout 55.1 % | |||||
| Candidate | Logo | Party | Votes | % | % change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Short | |
Labour | 814 | 63.8 % | |
| Leonard Sherratt | |
Scottish National Party | 272 | 21.3 % | |
| John Patrick | |
Conservative | 190 | 14.9 % | |
| Labour win | |
Labour majority | 542 | 42.5 % | |
Sir, - Most of us will have thought for a moment at the turn of the year about friends who moved on in the previous 12 months.
The Falkirk area lost the much-loved Dr Reilly of Bonnybridge at the turn of the year. Sadly, now my colleague and friend Jim Short has passed on suddenly after a working career dedicated to improving the life-chances of children and later as a fine Labour councillor.
Both were great people and there are others like them throughout our communities giving quiet and unswerving service to us all.
The year ahead will bring its share of triumphs and no doubt one or two tribulations.
In a complex and technological world, where we can sometimes miss the importance of everyday human endeavour, we should make it our resolution to constantly remind ourselves how all our lives are enriched and improved by the quiet heroes amongst us like Dr Reilly and my friend Jim. - Yours etc.,
ERIC JOYCE MP
Falkirk West
FIRST-TIME candidate Pat Reid won the Town Centre by-election for Labour to restore its 14-strong presence on Falkirk Council.
The newcomer took 39 per cent of the vote last Thursday to retain the seat which had been held by Labour veteran Jim Short from 1988 until his death in January.
The SNP's James Anderson was second and the Conservative's Alison Harris third, ahead of James Nimmo (Scottish Senior Citizens Unity Party), Alan Watson (Liberal Democrat) and Mhairi McAlpine (Scottish Socialist Party).
With a turnout of just over 44 per cent compared with 55.5 per cent at the local authority elections last May, Labour's majority was cut from 260 to 88.
But the statistics did not stop the largest single party on the council celebrating.
Group leader Linda Gow claimed: "We're delighted with the result. Pat Reid was an excellent candidate for us and will make a great councillor.
''We wanted this by-election to tell us what people think about the 'Rainbow Alliance' that's running Falkirk Council and we've now been told it's not very much.
''It appears voters in the Town Centre ward are not too impressed with the policies of a joint administration led by the SNP."
Mr Reid (62) was the head of the council's administration services department until he retired two years ago.
Falkirk's latest councillor said: "I'm obviously very pleased but at the same time very aware of whose footsteps I'm following in. Jim Short worked tirelessly for the people of this ward and I intend to do the same."
Council leader David Alexander insisted the SNP and its coalition partners had cause to feel pleased.
He pointed out: "In this ward in 1999 we polled 21 per cent of the vote. In 2003 it was 29 per cent and now up to 33 per cent.
''The more people see what is being achieved by the SNP working with our independent colleagues within Falkirk Council the more support we are gathering.
''Falkirk district is being changed for the better and support for those who are bringing about a greater sense of ambition locally will continue to rise, particularly as the results of projects such as My Future's In Falkirk become more obvious."
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