Relax. There is still time to vote. Phew. I got my computer problems sorted out in the nick of time to remind you.
The deadline for postal votes for the Stornoway Trust election is midday on Thursday. You must have posted your votes in the prepaid envelopes by then to ensure it will be counted by the Electoral Reform Society in London. To be more sure, you may wish to post it at Stornoway sorting office or even before the deadline.
A Ballot Box will also be available at the Estate Office in Perceval Square from 8am to 8pm on Thursday to deposit ballot papers for silly voters who miss the deadline for return by post. See? You have no excuse not to do the decent thing.
Here are the runners and riders. Voters never want to vote for anyone they do not recognise. So if any of the candidates want to send another photo or more publicity material, they may just email it to me at [email protected].
MURDO MURRAY
It has been an immense privilege to have been elected as a trustee for 12 years and a great honour to have served as Chairman for the past three years.
Transforming the Trust’s capacity to deliver for the future has been my recent focus as Chairman. I have lead an organisational development review of the Trust, culminating in the appointment of a Transition Director who will bring forward a new structure to enhance the Trust’s capabilities to develop and manage its assets for the future.
A £5.5million project for restoration works within the Castle Grounds has been submitted to the Heritage Lottery Fund. This project will transform the Grounds, providing a future management and maintenance structure which includes exciting new job opportunities.
I am a strong supporter of community renewable energy schemes and of gaining maximum community benefit from commercial schemes. The 20% ownership option which the Trust has secured in the Stornoway windfarm will deliver tangible benefits for the community for future decades.
As an active crofter, I am a voice for the crofting community within the Trust.
I am seeking re-election at this time offering experience, vision, and a commitment to ensure that the Trust delivers for the future to the benefit of the whole estate.
HAMISH BUDGE
I am employed as an Education Support Officer with Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and married with two children who both attend The Nicolson Institute.
The future of our community and young people is important to me. As well as my involvement in education, I actively volunteer in local athletics as a coach and help the local residents association. Other organisations I participate in are the school board, Swim Western Isles and the Hebridean Science Festival of which I was a founding member.
I have put my name forward as a nominee for The Stornoway Trust in order for it to work for the benefit of the whole community. I strongly believe that this legacy is a great asset. I think there should be a careful balance between maximising employment and protecting and enhancing the Trust’s potential for future generations.
My intention is to provide openness and transparency to the work of the Trust and provide a conduit so the views of the people it represents can be taken into account. I can work in a friendly manner with people with whom I may not necessarily hold the same view but will always have the integrity and the courage to stand up for what will be best for the Trust and the community it represents.
COLIN MACLEAN
I have submitted my nomination to contribute to the future of the Stornoway Trust as I believe that, working with other trustees and the community, we can make a difference to a decaying castle grounds, get a better deal from Lewis Windpower and deliver more transparency, fairness and success.
For too long, the Stornoway Trust has been run like a clique rather than run by trustees who believe that their duty is to be custodians. I’ve been born and brought up on the Stornoway Trust estate. I walk the castle grounds virtually every day and, as a local businessman, I work to make a difference to crofting buildings, fencing and the environment. 
In short, I am not a yesman. I want to work with people to make a difference. The castle grounds have been neglected and crofting communities are being ignored – the time has come for change.
DONALD CRICHTON
It has been an honour to serve you as a trustee for the last six years. During my first term on the Trust I have always sought to put the interests of the residents of the estate first and foremost.
I am seeking re-election to complete the work that has begun in reforming the Trust into a modern enterprising organisation. With a £5.5 million investment programme planned for the Castle Grounds the Trust needs to be ready to deliver on its commitments. Following a review of the organisation the Trust will be in a better position to do this. This will assist to invest in the community, increase revenue, and utilise assets in a way we haven’t been able to do before. 
I will work to ensure that the benefits from renewable projects are used to create jobs and initiatives in our community including the 20% option negotiated in the LWP project. I have supported the community renewable projects in Point and Tolsta and will support those with similar aspirations in the future. If re-elected I will continue to serve with dedication and to speak out for the crofting community and the interests of the whole estate.
ALEXANDER JOHN MURRAY
As a retired fisherman/crofter, I believe I have the time, and the experience,to represent the ratepayers within the Stornoway Trust Estate area,as a Trustee , at the forthcoming election. I have been involved in crofting, like many trust stakeholders, from a young age. Currently I’m chairman of the Upper Bayble grazing committee, a committee member of Point Community Council, a Trustee of Advocacy Western Isles, chairman of Stornoway & District Branch of Enable Scotland (a charitable organisation that is volunteer-led and represents people with disabilities and learning needs), and also proposed and assisted set up the Bayble Boatowners Marina, as well as seeing the project through to completion. 
While I support the developments taking place within the Castle Grounds, I believe the Trustees have to engage with stakeholders in outlying areas of the estate, as there could also be development opportunities outwith the Castle Grounds area. I also believe that more use should be made of the natural resources within the estate boundaries for the benefit of the communities in the estate area , which would have a knock on effect on the wider community.
I believe there should also be a degree of openness , transparency , and accountability to the people in the Trust’s decision making process. If elected as a Trustee, I will serve the whole of the Trust area to the best of my ability and in the best interests of the stakeholders and the community.
MATT BRUCE
I submitted my name to stand for the Trust because I feel that with my experience and interests I can help the Trust move forward. I have been involved in a range of projects over the last 25 years on Lewis, both through my work and in my spare time, and have learned from them all.
Organisations I have been involved in include Cuimhneachain nan Gaisgeach which built the cairns at Aignish, Gress and Balallan for the crofting heros, Point Sport and Recreation Association which built Ionad Stoodie at Seaview Knock, Point Community Council at its start, Lewis and Harris Horticultural Producers and the Rudhach magazine as well as an interest in politics. 
Lewis has a proud past and should have a great future. The Hebrides leads the way in community land ownership, but owning the land is only part of the issue – it is what you can do to manage the land which is the important bit. If elected I would hope to leave the Trust in a better state than it is in now – my involvement will only be temporary while the Trust will last a long time!
MURDO MACLENNAN
I have been resident in the bounds of the Trust area for 29 years and am an active crofter in the villages of Aignis and Swordale. In seeking the support of the electorate I do so on the basis that I can bring strengths gained over the years in other organisations to the deliberations of the Trust. This is a defining period in the history of the Trust with key decisions required in relation to its financial future.
In regard to the duties expected on a Trustee I am fully committed to good Governance and have experience in this area through my service and Chairmanship of the Audit and Finance committees of the Crofters Commission and Bord na Gaidhlig. I am fully committed to transparency in decision making and that the reasons for decisions should be clear to the residents of the area served by the Trust. There is also a requirement for a greater degree of communication and engagement between the Trust and the public at large. I therefore seek your vote based on the above.
Other interests – Director of Lewis Crofters, Trustee of Bethesda; Commissioner for Western Isles – Crofting Commission
Mr Maclennan also did an interview which is below:
MORRIS MACLEOD
Over the past number of years it has become increasingly obvious that the once venerated Stornoway Trust was being run with scant regard to the OSCR (Scottish Charity Regulator) advice on openness and transparency.
Recently I successfully argued that ferry operator, Calmac, must comply with the Freedom of Information Act, and provide me with safety information regarding the operation of their vessels. If I can insist on compliance with openness and transparency legislation from Calmac, a Scottish public authority, then I can also achieve it with Stornoway Trust.
The Scottish Information Commissioners decision 257/2014 on the above issue can be found at the following internet link: http://www.itspublicknowledge.info/uploadedFiles/Decision257-2014.pdf
I believe that I have the skills to improve the communication between the Trust and the people it serves as it moves forward. I would like to see the Trust improve its standing in the field of public opinion and once again be truly representative of the people of the estate and the town. Given that important developments are on the horizon, with the reopening of the Castle and the creation of the museum in the Castle Grounds, plus major windfarm developments, I think it is time that the Trust enjoyed a new lease of life with fresh trustees to invigorate it.
This is hilarious. Donald Crichton has been on the trust for the last 6 years and now claims he wants to reform it . Maybe turkeys do vote for christmas .
Pathetic more than hilarious Donnie, and Crichton’s claims to be in favour of “reforming” the Trust are especially hollow and he has been at the heart of the failures ever since he was elected. The one thing in his favour is that at least he provided the blog with a statement, hilarious as it is, while the other two failures seeking re-election simply hid away. My fervent wish is that the three failures are jettisoned on Thursday and then the Trust might be able to move forward as a force for good in our community.
Mr Crichton did not provide this blog with a statement – or anything. In the interests of balance, we had to photograph his flyer in a shop window.
Where’s Murdo Murray,does he not even have the decency to respond to your blog Mr X? no surprise there then,maybe he does’nt think he needs to,to big to fail! roll on Friday.
Sorry but it was the technical issue here that meant some candidates’ profiles did not appear at the same time as others.
Am I being unnecessarily cynical when I think that any votes posted to London by 12 noon tomorrow will be far too late to vote?
The whole process seems amateurish and unprofessional, which I suppose accurately reflects the current state of the Trust.
I voted earlier in the week, for the raft of new candidates because I have absolutely no confidence in the conduct or ability of those three seeking re-election to perpetuate the decline.
Good luck to anyone that thinks that voting will get rid of the dis-trustees.
A lot of youse have been asking me how me and my pals are going to vote for the Trust, well I am going to go in tomorrow morning with my papers, and stick it in that box myself because I don’t trust posting it.
I will be greeted by the stair lift and bed pans in the entrance and the usual stony silence when I eventually get to the counter up that narrow stair.
They paid off Tony, the only cheerful one in there, but I hear he is doing well in his new job.
Well, less of the chat, here goes.
Cream Eggs, ( COLIN Maclean, not the other one ) because who can resist them this time of year, and I used to see him when it was safe to go in the Grounds.
Matt Bruce, he has good spuds and veg.
Murdo Maclennan, a solid CofS man like myself,
Solo Murray, many’s the fry he used to give my husband when he was fishing.
And of course Morris Macleod, another one I used to see in the grounds and he will ruffle their feathers as he did with the SPA.
And that is it, my husband warned me against doing this, because they are mean, vindictive, petty and pretty bad losers, but what do I care.
I should have said ” a solid CofS man, like myself, a solid CofS woman!”