The winner of an Aberdeenshire Council by-election will be announced today.
Hundreds of voters took to the polls yesterday to make their choice for Huntly, Strathbogie and Alford’s new councillors.
The by-election was prompted by the death of SNP councillor Joanna Strathdee, and the resignation of the Liberal Democrat’s Alastair Ross due to health reasons.
Polling stations opened yesterday at 7am across the region and locals were given until 10pm to cast their votes for a preferred candidate.
The candidates standing for election are Margo Stewart (Scottish Conservatives), Gwyneth Petrie (SNP), Danial Millican (Scottish Liberal Democrats), Derek Scott (Scottish Libertarians) and Sarah Flavell (Scottish Labour).
The winner will be announced this morning after the count at Inverurie Town Hall today at from 10am.
Alford resident Mr Ross decided to step down due to ill health earlier this year having served as a councillor since 2007 with colleagues praising his “hard work and dedication” following the announcement.
Council stalwart Mrs Strathdee, of Huntly, served the region for 16 years and was head of the local authority’s SNP group from 2007-2010, and also stood in the Westminster elections for Gordon in 2005 and Aberdeen North in 2010.
She was aged 60 when she lost her five-and-a-half year battle with cancer on August 23, but had continued in her role serving the community into her final days.
Her family paid tribute to her following her death, hailing her a “fighters” and “the strongest and most inspirational person that we knew”.
Fellow councillors also described her as a “much-loved friend and colleague”.