(Picture shows retiring councillor, Gurudeo Saluja and new candidate, Iris Walker)

Community volunteer Iris Walker is to stand for the Liberal Democrats in the Aberdeenshire Council elections on 3 May in Westhill and district.
Born and brought up in rural Donside, Iris has lived in Garlogie and now Elrick for the last 25 years. She is employed by NHS Grampian.
She is press and communications officer for Westhill & Elrick Community Council, a board member of Grampian Housing Association, and a founder member and director of the Westhill Citizens Advice Bureau. Her involvement in these and other local organisations has brought her into contact with many people from the diverse settlements within the area.
Iris said: “I enjoy meeting people and responding to the issues that affect them. I would like to continue to help implement improvements that people want for our area and being a councillor would extend this opportunity.”
The present councillor, Gurudeo Saluja OBE, is to stand down at the election. He said: “I am delighted that Iris is to be our candidate. She is a very caring and able person who will be ideally suited to the work involved. I know she can be relied on to pick up on the issues that people will bring to her attention.
“Iris knows the towns and settlements throughout the area very well. Her present involvement in various local groups is already appreciated by many.”
Iris said: “I am thrilled to be selected as the candidate for my local area. Although the community groups I am involved with tend to focus on the built-up areas of Westhill and Elrick, I am equally at home in the rural farming communities such as Sauchen, Echt and Midmar, listening to the diverse range of issues of concern for local residents.”
Sir Robert Smith, MP for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine, said: “I have been impressed with Iris’ commitment to take up local issues of concern in the community. She has demonstrated her hard work and energy through a range of local organisations and will be a powerful voice for the community on the council.”