Alexander Cluness
Alexander Jamieson "Sandy" Cluness (b. 1 May 1941, Hayfield Cottage, Lerwick) is a former Shetland Islands Councillor for Lerwick North, former Convener, Civic Head of the Shetland Islands Council and former Procurator Fiscal. Cluness has had much involvement with local politics in the past 30 years.
He unsuccessfully contested the Lerwick Twageos seat at the 1986 Shetland Islands Council election and Yell South By-Election in 1996.
Political Career
Cluness' first involvement in local politics pre-dates the Shetland Islands Council as he was elected for the County Council in the Yell North ward, beating Robert A. Manson in May of 1973. His first spell as a councillor was short lived however, as in 1974 he became the Procurator Fiscal and thus resigned from the council causing a by-election. Cluness returned as a councillor in 1978 when he stood in the Lerwick Twageos ward, beating James J. Paton, and again in 1982 he returned to the same constituency unopposed. The 1986 council election saw Cluness stand as a Shetland Movement candidate, against James J. Paton who was Labour. He lost this election and would not return to Shetland politics for 13 years. Cluness made a triumphant return and was elected in the 1999 council election as a Liberal Democrat in Lerwick North Central with an overwhelming majority, beating Greta McElvogue and Leonard Groat, both independent. He returned to the seat unopposed for the 2003 election. When in 2007 the boundaries of constituencies in Shetland were completely redrawn, Cluness was elected to Lerwick North, a three-member ward, together with Caroline Miller and Allan Wishart.
Zetland County Council
Shetland Islands Council
- 1978 Shetland Islands Council
- 1982 Shetland Islands Council
- 1999 Shetland Islands Council
- 2003 Shetland Islands Council
- 2007 Shetland Islands Council
| Conveners | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Thomas Stove 
|
Convener of the Shetland Islands Council 2003-2012 |
Succeeded by Malcolm Bell |
| Shetland Islands Council | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by James Paton |
Member for Lerwick Twageos 1978-1986 |
Succeeded by James Paton |
| Constituency created | Member for Lerwick North Central 1999-2007 |
Constituency abolished |
| Constituency created | Member for Lerwick North 1999-2007 with Caroline Miller & Allan Wishart |
Succeeded by Malcolm Bell with Michael Stout and Allan Wishart |
| Zetland County Council | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Hugh Williamson |
Member for Yell North 1973-1974 |
Succeeded by David Johnson |
| Yell North County Councillors | ||
|---|---|---|
| Councillors | Zachary Hamilton (1890-1906) • Thomas Sandison (1906-1907) • John Sandison (1907-1910) • Henry Mouat (1910-1919) • George Jamieson (1919-1922) • Lachlan MacFadyen (1922-1925) • James Mainland (1925-1929) • George Jamieson (1929-1932) • Robert Smith (1932-1948) • John Ratter (1948-1952) • John Stewart (1952-1955) • Amanda Youngman (1955-1961) • Andrew Peterson (1961-1962) • Hugh Sutherland (1962-1967) • Hugh Williamson (1967-1973) • Alexander Cluness (1973-1974) • David Johnson (1974-1975) | |
