 | 'He was a true gentleman who served his community tirelessly. Mitchell was a well liked and respected member of the council. He worked extremely hard to represent his constituents at all times. He tackled all the issues that faced him with good humour and was a steady and reliable chairman of the Banff and Buchan area committee.' Aberdeenshire Council leader Cllr Anne Robertson, 5 th February 2008. |  |
There was a by-election in the Troup ward of Aberdeenshire Council on the 1 st May 2008 following the death of Scottish National Party Cllr Mitchell Burnett on the 4 th February 2008. Cllr Mitchell had served as a Grampian Regional Cllr then as Cllr for Buchan North on Aberdeenshire Cllr for from 1995 to 2007, before being elected as one of the three Cllrs for Troup in May 2007.
Troup is in the Banff & Buchan Westminster parliamentary seat (held by the Scottish National Party's Rt Hon Alex Salmond MP) and in the Banff & Buchan Scottish parliamentary seat (held by the Scottish National Party's Stewart Stevenson MSP). In May 2007, three Cllrs were elected: Mitchell Burnett for the Scottish National Party, John Duncan for the Conservatives and Tom Ferguson for Labour.
Scottish National Party hold.
 |
 |
 |
| Cllr Bob Watson Scottish National Party Newly elected Cllr |
Cllr John Duncan Conservative & Unionist |
Cllr Sydney Mair Independent |
| Seats | Candidates | Counts | Electorate | % Turnout | Quota | Rejected votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | 1 | 36.3 % | 16 |
| Candidate | Logo | Party | 1 st Pref | Share | Quota | Count | Status | Seat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bob Watson |  |
Scottish National Party | 1,721 | 62.83 % | 1 | Elected | 1 | |
| Lisa Ruth Watt |  |
Conservative & Unionist | 515 | 18.80 % | 1 | Not elected | ||
| Edward Lindsay Acton |  |
Liberal Democrat | 503 | 18.36 % | 1 | Not elected |
| No adjustments | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Logo | Party | Count 1 | |
| Bob Watson | |
Scottish National Party | 1,721 Elected |
|
| Lisa Ruth Watt | |
Conservative & Unionist | 515 Not elected |
|
| Edward Lindsay Acton | |
Liberal Democrat | 503 Not elected |
|
| Seats | Candidates | Counts | Electorate | Quota | Rejected votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 4 | 2 | 943 | 53 |
| Candidate | Logo | Party | 1 st Pref | Share | Quota | Count | Status | Seat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cllr Mitchell Burnett | |
Scottish National Party | 1,798 | 47.71 % | 1.91 | 1 | Made Quota | 1 |
| John Duncan | |
Conservative & Unionist | 914 | 24.26 % | 0.97 | 2 | Made Quota | 2 |
| Sydney Mair |  |
Independent | 770 | 0.20 % | 0.81 | 2 | Made Quota | 3 |
| Ian Findlay | |
Liberal Democrat | 286 | 7.59 % | 0.30 | 2 | Eliminated |
| Adjustments | Transfer of surplus from Burnett | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Logo | Party | Count 1 | Count 2 |
| Cllr Mitchell Burnett | |
Scottish National Party | 1798 Elected |
- 855 943 |
| John Duncan | |
Conservative & Unionist | 914 | + 146.46 1,060.46 Elected |
| Sydney Mair | |
Independent | 770 | + 204.95 974.95 Elected |
| Ian Findlay | |
Liberal Democrat | 286 | + 136.00 422.00 Eliminated |
| Non-transferable votes | 0 | + 367.59 367.59 |
||
SYDNEY Mair, a councillor for Troup, has been selected as the chairman of Aberdeenshire Council's Banff and Buchan area committee. He succeeds Mitchell Burnett, another Troup councillor, who has stood down due to ill health.
Tributes were today being paid to Troup Councillor Mitchell Burnett, who passed away in his sleep yesterday (Mon) following a lengthy battle against cancer.
Cllr Burnett, 69, was first elected to the former Fraserburgh South ward of Grampian Regional Council after a by-election in November 1992. His roles with the authority included membership of the Public Protection, Transportation and Roads and Water Services Committees.
The SNP councillor was then elected to Aberdeenshire Council in April 1995 for the electoral ward Buchan North, retaining that ward at the elections in 1999 and 2003. On May 3, 2007, he was elected as one of three members for the multi-member electoral ward Troup.
Cllr Burnett served as vice-chairman of the Banff and Buchan Area Committee from 1996-1999, and as chairman of the committee from May 2007.
He was a member of the Commercial Services Committee from 1996 until it was disbanded in 2002 and was a member of the Infrastructure Services Committee from 1996 to the present.
Cllr Burnett remained remarkably upbeat throughout his illness and continued his chairmanship of the Banff and Buchan Area Committee right up until January this year, when he stepped down. The post was taken over by fellow Troup Councillor Sydney Mair.
He also chaired public meetings following the Pennan landslip last year as Aberdeenshire Council worked with the local community after tonnes of mud flooded through the village.
Besides his political work, Cllr Burnett was a very active community member, with links to local organisations including the Young Farmers and Tyrie Youth Club. He was also a very keen old-time dancer.
Close friend and fellow Councillor Andy Ritchie provided care for Cllr Burnett during his illness and was with him in his final hours.
Despite his poor health, Cllr Burnett was determined to keep an appointment to meet with First Minister Alex Salmond on Sunday.
Cllr Ritchie said: "He said 'I'll be sat here waiting for him' and he was.
"He was absolutely positive right up to Sunday night, even when he felt so ill. He didn't let it get him down. He was a great man."
Sadly, Cllr Burnett's condition worsened on Sunday and he was readmitted to hospital. He passed away peacefully yesterday evening (Mon, Feb 4).
SNP Group Leader Cllr Joanna Strathdee said: "What a privilege it was working with Mitchell over the years - he will be a huge miss to the council.
"I was glad to be able to see him last week and even though he was on oxygen, every now and then the mask would come down and he'd come out with one of his one-liners.
"My thoughts go out to his family."
Aberdeenshire Provost Bill Howatson said: "Mitchell will be sorely missed as a hardworking and conscientious councillor.
"He will be best remembered as a down-to-earth character who had a canny knack of getting right to the heart of the matter.
"He had an innate sense of humour which served as his hallmark in a host of situations, one of the characteristics that made him a respected colleague."
Leader of the Council Anne Robertson paid tribute to Cllr Burnett, saying:
"Mitchell was a well liked and respected member of the council. He was a true gentleman who served his community tirelessly and worked extremely hard to represent his constituents at all times.
"He tackled all the issues that faced him with good humour and was a steady and reliable chairman of the Banff and Buchan area committee.
"When I became a councillor in 1997, he was one of the first councillors I met, and he was welcoming and very friendly. I will miss him very much, as I know will his colleagues within the council and everyone who came into contact with him.
"My thoughts are with his family at this difficult time."
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Tribute has been paid to "respected" Aberdeenshire SNP councillor Mitchell Burnett after his death at the age of 69.
Mr Burnett, who represented Troup, passed away in his sleep following a long battle against cancer.
He was first elected to the former Fraserburgh South ward of Grampian Regional Council in 1992.
Council leader Anne Robertson said: "He was a true gentleman who served his community tirelessly."
She explained: "Mitchell was a well liked and respected member of the council. He worked extremely hard to represent his constituents at all times.
"He tackled all the issues that faced him with good humour and was a steady and reliable chairman of the Banff and Buchan area committee.
"My thoughts are with his family at this difficult time."
Tributes were paid yesterday to one of Aberdeenshire's most popular councillors, who lost his battle against cancer.
Mitchell Burnett died in hospital on Monday evening after falling critically ill at his home at Tyrie, near Fraserburgh, the day before.
Weeks earlier, the 69-year-old SNP councillor for Troup, had announced he was too unwell to continue as chairman of the local authority's Banff and Buchan area committee.
But he never surrendered his role as councillor.
He told the Press and Journal last year that he was determined to beat his skin cancer by throwing himself into his council duties.
Mr Burnett had been a local councillor since 1992, after winning a by-election in the former Fraserburgh South ward of Grampian Regional Council.
He would have turned 70 on February 15.
Last night, First Minister Alex Salmond said it was "desperately sad news".
He said: "The whole community will mourn the passing of an outstanding public servant.
"It speaks volumes for the high regard in which Mitchell was held that he was elected continuously over 15 years."
The Banff and Buchan MP added: "He fought his illness courageously right to the end and I had the great pleasure of meeting him on Sunday night to present a lifetime achievement award for his work for Scotland's cause.
"He was very poorly but still cheerful, able to share a joke and was determined to see in his 70th birthday."
Broch councillor Andy Ritchie, who is engaged to Mr Burnett's daughter Barbara-Ann, was with him in his final hours.
He said he was keen to keep his appointment with the first minister.
"He said 'I'll be sat here waiting for him' - and he was," said Mr Ritchie.
"He was absolutely positive right up until Sunday night, even when he felt so ill.
"He didn't let it get him down. He was a great man."
Aberdeenshire Council leader Anne Robertson added: "He was a true gentlemen who served his community tirelessly and worked extremely hard to represent his constituents at all times.
"He tackled all the issues that faced him with good humour.
"When I became councillor in 1997, he was one of the first councillors I met and he was welcoming and very friendly.
"I will miss him very much, as I know will his colleagues within the council and everyone who came into contact with him."
Local SNP MSP Stewart Stevenson described Mr Burnett as a stalwart.
"He was always totally committed and always willing to assist constituents or fellow party workers," he said.
Besides his political work, Mr Burnett supported the Young Farmers and Tyrie Youth Clubs. He was also a fan of Scottish Country Dancing, which he taught for several years.
He is survived by wife Helen and daughter Barbara-Ann. Funeral arrangements have yet to be announced.
MITCHELL Burnett, councillor for the Troup ward, in Aberdeenshire, died in his sleep on Monday after a long battle with cancer. He was elected to the former Fraserburgh South ward of Grampian Regional Council following a by-election in 1992 and most recently served as chairman of Aberdeenshire Council's Banff and Buchan area committee. He met with First Minister Alex Salmond on Sunday before being re-admitted to hospital.
Hundreds descended on a north-east village at the weekend to say goodbye to one of Aberdeenshire's most popular councillors.
First minister Alex Salmond was among the mourners at Strichen Parish Church on Saturday for a celebration of the life of Mitchell Burnett, who died last week after a three-year battle with cancer.
The SNP councillor for Troup, who would have turned 70 on Friday, was buried at his home at Tyrie, near Fraserburgh. During the service, a video link-up relayed images and sound from the packed kirk to the dozens of mourners who were unable to get inside. They were seated in a smaller hall at the back of the church.
Mr Salmond, who is leader of the SNP and MP for Banff and Buchan, read a passage from Revelations and told the service he felt privileged to have been with Mr Burnett at home the previous Sunday, when he presented the council veteran with an SNP lifetime achievement award.
Central Buchan councillor Sandy Stronach paid tribute to Mr Burnett's sense of humour and love of Doric with a reading of his favourite poem, Ian Middleton's Passion Poowder.
A piece of music composed for Mr Burnett's 60th birthday was also performed by a flautist. The coffin, which was draped with a Saltire, was piped out of the church to Flower of Scotland.
Several buses were organised to take mourners to Mr Burnett's home, where he was laid to rest on top of a hill.
Mr Burnett was diagnosed with skin cancer after a cut on his head developed into a tumour.
He said he was determined to beat the disease by throwing himself into his council duties and, until recently, was chairman of Aberdeenshire Council's Banff and Buchan area committee.
The Returning Officer has announced that the by-election in Ward 2, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Councillor Mitchell Burnett, will take place on Thursday 1 May, 2008.
The Election will be conducted using the Single Transferable Vote with the counting taking place in the Macduff Town Hall.
Further details regarding the by-election timetable and other arrangements will be announced in due course.
VOTERS in Troup ward, east of the River Deveron, are being called to the polling stations on Thursday, May 1, to elect a new councillor.
The vacancy arose following the recent death of Councillor Mitchell Burnett, and the by-election is Aberdeenshire Council's first under the new multi-member ward system.
There are places for three councillors in the Troup ward, but this by-election will not involve Conservative John Duncan or Independent Sydney Mair, the sitting councillors.
Aberdeenshire Council set the date last week. The notice of election, which sets out the other deadlines and arrangements for potential candidates, is expected to be announced towards the end of March.
Mr Burnett topped the poll in the May elections. The SNP councillor had twice the number of first preference votes than the second-placed candidate, under the new single transferable voting system.
The turn-out was 50%.
He served 12 years as councillor for the old seat of Buchan North, and lived in the ward, at Tyrie. Previous to that he had been a Grampian Regional councillor.
Following the last election, he was elected to the chair of the Banff and Buchan area committee, but gave up the chair for health reasons in January.
Councillor Sydney Mair has been re-elected to the position, which he occupied before the May elections.
Mr Burnett died in February from skin cancer at the age of 69. He had fought the disease for three years.
The largest town in the ward is Macduff, and other settlements include Gardenstown, Longmanhill, King Edward, Pennan, New Aberdour, Rosehearty and Sandhaven.
The count will take place in Macduff Town Hall. No decision has been taken on whether it will start as soon as polling stops or the next day.
Following the passing of the deadline for nominations for the Troup by-election on May 1, Aberdeenshire Council can announce the candidates.
Three people will take part in the contest to find one councillor for the ward: Edward Lindsay Acton (Scottish Liberal Democrats), Bob Watson (Scottish National Party) and Lisa Ruth Watt (Scottish Conservative and Unionist).
The position was left vacant after the death of Mitchell Burnett, who passed away in his sleep in February following a lengthy battle against cancer.
Following the introduction of the multi-member ward system last year, a councillor will be elected to serve the whole of the Troup ward, joining existing councillors, John Duncan and Sydney Mair.
Voters are reminded ahead of the by-election that the Single Transferable Vote (STV) method will be used again, as it was for last May's council election.
This system allows voters to express as many of their preferences on the ballot paper as they wish.
It does not use the traditional method of marking a cross in the box next to the candidate - instead voters should mark a 'one' against their first preference, a two against their second, and so on, voting for as many or as few candidates as they wish.
If they have not already done so, voters should register as soon as possible to avoid missing out on the chance to vote for their local elected representative.
The deadline for applying for a postal ballot is April 16, the same date as the voter registration deadline. Ballot papers will be sent out to applicants in the week beginning April 21.
There are twelve local polling stations in use at this by-election and local community councils were consulted on the locations.
Voting will take place between 7am and 10pm on May 1 and it is hoped the extended hours will allow even more people to turn out and cast their vote.
Following a by-election in the Troup ward of Aberdeenshire, Bob Watson (Scottish National Party) has been announced as a councillor in the multi-member ward.
He received 1,721 votes, ahead of Lisa Ruth Watt (Scottish Conservative and Unionist) with 515 votes, and Edward Lindsay Acton (Scottish Liberal Democrats) with 503 votes.
The results were announced by chief returning officer and Chief Executive of Aberdeenshire Council, Alan Campbell, after 2,755 members of the electorate took the chance to vote yesterday (Thu, May 1).
That equates to a turnout of 36.3% and only 16 ballot papers were rejected.
The result was decided at the first stage of the Single Transferable Vote process and announced just over an hour after the count began at Macduff Town Hall at 10am today (Fri, May 2).
The position in the Troup ward was left vacant after the death of Mitchell Burnett, who passed away in February after a long battle against cancer.
Councillor Watson, 62, joins existing councillors in the three-member ward, John Duncan and Sydney Mair.
The Mintlaw resident said he was 'completely overwhelmed' by the result.
Cllr Watson stepped down as a member of Grampian Regional Council in 1992 and was replaced by Cllr Burnett.
He said it was an emotional occasion to be taking back the baton from Cllr Burnett, who he said did a 'fantastic job'.
'I will take up the baton and carry it forward and do the best I can for everyone in the Troup ward,' he said.
'I'm going to get straight to work and hold surgeries to find out the issues at hand and try to help the constituents as best I can.
'I would like to thank the voting public for being so generous in voting for me in such large numbers - I would hope to justify their faith in coming years by doing the best I can for them.'
Alan Campbell said: 'The by-election went very smoothly in terms of the application of the process.
'It was decided on the basis of the first preference, so it was pretty clear-cut, but staff were trained for the next stage of the process had that been necessary.
'Only 16 papers were rejected, which is a very small percentage, and that's satisfying.'
Cllr Watson has worked for British Telecom and most recently was employed by Aberdeenshire Council.
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