Saltcoats SNP announce candidates for local council elections

The group announced Jean McClung and Roberta Bianchini as their candidates for the new, three-member ward and the pair will have former SNP Group Leader and Saltcoats and Stevenston Councillor, Willie Gibson, as their election

agent. 

Jean was born and brought up in Saltcoats and worked as a teacher, is married to Bill and they have two daughters and a son. 

She is a life-long fan of Robert Burns and is also a member of the Three Towns’ Caring Group, which she feels is an invaluable resource for lending support to unpaid carers in the local community. 

Jean said on her selection: “I am honoured to have been selected by the SNP to represent Saltcoats at the forthcoming Local Government Elections.

“I love my home town, but am aware of the current social and economic challenges facing the area.

“If elected, I vow to do everything within my power to help address these issues.”

Roberta was born to Italian parents and brought up in Edinburgh and West Lothian.

She has worked in marketing in the public, private and educational sectors and also

has experience working alongside elected members at both local authority level and national level, in the Scottish Parliament.

Roberta recently moved to Beith with her partner and, if elected, she says she will work to ensure residents have a voice in their communities. 

She said: “From helping shape public policy in western Edinburgh to actively contributing to national campaigns such as the 2014 referendum, I am a passionate believer in improving communities and hope to bring this passion and dedication to bear in Saltcoats.”

Roberta added: “This is why I am proud to be standing for the SNP, the party committed to ensuring that one per cent of the overall council budget will be given directly to communities - allowing local residents to make the right choices in their area.” 

Watch these pages for full coverage of the local council election in the weeks to come.