The council by-election takes place this Thursday 18 August. One of the candidates is standing for the Labour group. She has worked as office manager for Edinburgh North & Leith MSP Malcolm Chisholm and MP Mark Lazarowicz for almost 20 years.
She is married with two children, aged 17 and 23. Karen has lived in Edinburgh all her life and raised her family here.
We caught up with her to find out how her campaign is going, particularly in light of her bad fall last week down some basement steps which resulted in a broken ankle….
Voters are being reminded that polling stations will be open this Thursday 18 August for the Edinburgh City Centre by-election.
The City of Edinburgh Council seat has become vacant following Councillor Beckett’s decision to leave to study at Harvard University.
Voters are reminded to check their polling cards for details of where they should cast their vote, as some venues have changed to avoid clashing with Fringe venues. Others have been relocated to avoid disrupting schools in the first week of term.
Polling stations (open from 7am to 10pm):
Lauriston Halls, Sacred Heart Church, 28 Lauriston Street;
Lothian Chambers, 59-63 George IV Bridge (relocated from Augustine United Church);
Waverley Court, Council headquarters, 4 East Market Street (relocated from Royal Mile Primary school and Panmure St Anne’s);
London Road Church Hall, 1A Easter Road (relocated from Abbeyhill Primary school);
Walpole Hall, St Mary’s Cathedral, Chester Street;
St Stephen’s Centre, 105 St Stephen Street;
St Paul’s and St George’s Church, 10 Broughton Street (relocated from St Mary’s RC Primary school);
The Apex Hotel, 90 Haymarket Terrace.
The election will use the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system where voters can rank candidates in order of preference rather than using a single cross. Voters can give a rank to as many or as few candidates as they like. The votes will be counted and the results announced on Friday 19 August.
The six candidates for the vacant seat in the City Centre ward are:
John Carson – Independent;
Karen Doran – Scottish Labour Party;
Alistair Hodgson – Scottish Liberal Democrats;
Melanie Main – Scottish Green Party;
Iain McGill – Scottish Conservative and Unionist;
Alasdair Rankin – Scottish National Party (SNP).
