The Scottish Liberal Democrats have chosen local authority worker Violet Iwanio as their candidate to stand for the Strathmore ward of Perth and Kinross in the local elections coming in May.
Violet hopes to take over from the ward’s current well-known and long serving Liberal Democrat councillor Lewis Simpson who is retiring after representing the area for the past 19 years.
Councillor Simpson has long been involved in the local authority’s planning and development management committee and is currently the convener of the council’s Local Review Body which considers rejected planning applications a second time.
Councillor Simpson said of Violet’s selection: “I am delighted that Violet has been selected as the Liberal Democrat candidate for the Strathmore ward.
“I have been out campaigning with Violet regularly and seen first-hand how good she is when dealing with issues on the door step.
“I am confident that she will listen to any concerns and actually get things done.”
Violet has lived in Perthshire all her life and is said to have many links in the Strathmore ward.
It’s understood she has worked as an HR professional in local government for over 30 years, managing a variety of teams in Edinburgh and Perth and Kinross.
Violet is considered to have a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the varying cultures and operations within councils, having being involved in work to bring about organisational change over many years.
Discussing her candidacy Violet has voiced her concerns about the lasting effects of the Covid crisis on the education of local children and support for teachers helping kids to catch up on their learning.
Violet has also said she is strongly committed to improving the local environment and biodiversity and stressed she feels that new housing and infrastructure plans need to do more to protect and enhance nature.
And she has said another high priority for her is community safety, whether it is her support for 20mph zones to stop HGVs speeding through Strathmore villages or to have more policing and lighting in dark places to make the streets and parks safer.
Violet said of councillor Simpson’s looming retirement: “I’m proud to know Lewis as a friend and fellow Liberal Democrat.
“He has been so committed to his role as a local councillor and he has been a tireless campaigner and champion for Strathmore.
“He has especially mentored and been a great support to me as a prospective councillor and I hope that I can carry on in his footsteps for Strathmore.”
