Liberal Democrat candidates selected for Rutherglen seats

12.00.00am GMT Mon 19th Mar 2007

Rutherglen Liberal Democrats have today announced their second group of candidates for the local elections in May - for the highly winnable seats of Rutherglen South and Rutherglen Central and North on South Lanarkshire Council.

The candidates for Rutherglen South are Eileen Baxendale and Danny Campbell. The Ward takes in the area currently held for the Liberal Democrats with a large majority by Councillor Gretel Ross who is retiring from the Council in May.

Eileen Baxendale lives with her husband in Burnside. Eileen is a former Social Work Manager and was co-ordinator of the Castlemilk Churches Together Refugee Centre for 5 years. Currently the Chair of the Baptist Union of Scotland Public Issues Advisory Group, she is also the Secretary of the Scottish Churches Racial Justice Group.

Danny Campbell is a design engineer working for IBM, who lives with his partner in Rutherglen. Danny graduated from Glasgow University with a degree in engineering. An active bowler and golfer, he is former President of Overtoun Park Bowling Club. In his spare time, Danny is active within the Red Cross and with hospital visiting services.

Janette Little is the Liberal Democrat candidate for Rutherglen Central and North. Janette is an NNEB trained Nursery Nurse and previously ran a playgroup/nursery at the former Geoff Shaw Centre in Toryglen. She grew up in Rutherglen and attended Cathkin High School. Janette now works in the City Centre, and lives in Rutherglen with her family.

The Liberal Democrats have long seen Rutherglen and Cambuslang as amongst their best prospects in the West of Scotland. The Party stands second to Labour at all levels of election across the Rutherglen constituency, and the new fairer system of elections to be used for the elections in May - together with recent by-election victories such as the important one in the nearby King's Park Ward on Glasgow City Council (much of which lies within Rutherglen constituency) - gives the Liberal Democrats high hopes of major gains in South Lanarkshire in May.

Liberal Democrat MSP Robert Brown said:

"I am delighted that we are able to put forward such a strong team for the Council elections. Eileen, Danny and Janette will be a powerful voice for Rutherglen on the Council. "

Ends

Notes for editors:

Rutherglen South is a three member ward containing the areas of Stonelaw, Spittal, Blairbeth, Burnside, Fernhill, Springhall and Cathkin.

Rutherglen Central and North is a three member ward covering Bankhead, part of King's Park, Gallowflat, Farme Cross, Rutherglen Town Centre and the West End.