New Culloden councillor had 'amazing experience' on campaign trail ahead of election for Highland Council
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Morven Reid was elected as an independent councillor for Culloden and Ardersier at last week's council elections.
She may have been “late to the party” but her campaigning paid off at last week’s Highland Council elections.
She is one of five new Independent councillors after being elected to Culloden and Ardersier against stiff competition from six other candidates.
Ms Reid says her campaign got off to a late start due to – of all things – a musical.
“I chair Inverness Musical Theatre and we had the production of ‘Legally Blonde, the Musical,'” she says.
“Last year we got cancelled due to the pandemic so this was our first local production since.
"Our opening night was the night nominations for council were announced. I couldn’t do a thing because I was so committed and couldn’t let them down.”
Ms Reid was ready to campaign as soon as the curtain went down, but wound up catching Covid.
“I only managed 10 days of campaigning in the end but it was such an amazing experience,” she says.
“I didn’t spend much money and I was so busy and late to the party. So I if I can get elected anyone can! The hardest bit is just putting yourself out there.”
As former operations manager at Inverness Caledonian Thistle, she organised their move to Pittodrie and then back again once they were promoted to the SPL.
These days, she manages logistical challenges of a different kind – as a part-time childminder.
“I’m a childminder and I also provide respite care for children with additional support needs,” she says. “I fully intend to carry on; I love it. It’s my life.”
Ms Reid hopes to apply her extensive childcare experience to her role as a councillor. During the pandemic, she got involved with the parent council and issues with overcrowding at children’s school, Culloden Academy.
“I felt that communications weren’t right, and the council should have been far more open,” she says.
This was also the case regarding discussions with her local village hall and new housing developments.
“The council should be more direct with people and just tell us if there’s no money,” she says.
Local community work will be a big focus of her first term as a councillor.
“The people I met weren’t interested in party politics, so being an Independent is really important to me,” she says.
“I passionately believe local politics is about the right person, in the right place, doing the right things.”
Culloden and Ardersier is represented by Glynis-Campbell Sinclair (SNP), Trish Robertson (Liberal Democrats) and Morven Reid (Independent).
