With just under 11,000 in this three-seat East Lothian ward, Dunbar and East Linton ward's residents have returned one councillor from each of the main parties in the county for the last decade.
The Conservatives gained a seat from the Liberal Democrats in 2012 and increased their support in 2017 when they leapfrogged the incumbent Labour and SNP councillors to go from third place to top with first time candidate Dr Sue Kempson.
Like many of the East Lothian wards new housing developments are high in the list of issues raised by local residents as well as pressure on infrastructure.
READ MORE: East Lothian Council Election 2022: Residents concern over hospital ward closure
Concern over future plans for Dunbar's Belhaven Community Hospital is also likely to play a role in the election.
The hospital is one of a number of healthcare facilities under review as East Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership looks into introducing a new model of care for the elderly across the county.
The review was delayed by the pandemic and talks are resuming with communities but the decision by health chiefs to close the only ward at the Edinburgh Hospital in North Berwick last September and move staff temporarily to Haddington to deal with worker shortages has sparked alarms.
2017 election results
- Sue Kempson, Conservative 29.86% FPv ((1,834 total)
- Norman Hampshire, Labour 26.59% FPv (1,633 total)
- Paul McLennan, SNP 17.04% FPv (2,216)
2022 Candidates
Former councillor Jacquie Bell is making a bid to return to chambers a decade after she stepped down.
Mrs Bell is a serving member of the Liberal Democrats Federal Appeals Panel which adjudicates internal disputes within the party.
She stepped down from her role as a councillor in 2012 where she made headlines in a row over emails sent to the then council leader Stuart Currie which saw her suspended by her party.
However she has remained a high profile representative of the community and is currently the chair of Dunbar and East Linton Community Council.
In 2017 she was named as a candidate for the Scottish Liberal Democrats in the council election but had to withdraw for health reasons.
Now she is returning as the party's candidate for the ward and hopes to regain a seat at the council.
Council leader Norman Hampshire (Labour) is the only sitting elected member standing for the new term as Sue Kempson steps down and Paul McLennan who was elected as East Lothian's MSP at the last Holyrood election also leaves.
A lifelong resident of Dunbar, Mr Hampshire has served as a councillor for more than 30 years and has pledged support to ensuring the future of Torness, the East Lothian economy and affordable housing in his campaign.
And Lynn Jardine, former chair of Women's Aid East and Midlothian, is hoping to win a seat for the SNP and bring her experience working in voluntary roles and in housing, health and social care sectors to the table.
Full list of candidates for Dunbar and East Linton ward
Timothy Anderson (Scottish Family Party)
Jacquie Bell (Scottish Liberal Democrats)
Donna Collins (Scottish Conservative and Unionist)
Norman Hampshire (Scottish Labour Party)
Mark James (Scottish Green Party)
Lyn Jardine (Scottish National Party)
Cris Thacker (Independence for Scotland Party)
