A FIFE councillor has announced her intention to step down from her duties at the end of the month.
Julie Ford, who represents Glenrothes West and Kinglassie, said it had been an “enormous privilege” to serve her community for the last decade.
First elected as an SNP councillor in a by-election in October 2015 – when she replaced Peter Grant following his election as an MP – she was re-elected in 2017 and 2022.
She said: “It has been an enormous privilege to serve and represent the people of Glenrothes West and Kinglassie on Fife Council for the last 10 years.
“In that time, I have had the honour of serving as the Depute Provost of Fife for five years as well as temporarily serving as the SNP’s Education Spokesperson.
“However, since becoming a councillor in 2015, my personal and professional circumstances have evolved and, as a result, the time that I have been able to commit to my council duties has diminished.
“The people in our communities deserve representatives who can give them their all and I do not feel as though I am now in that position, which is why I have come to this difficult decision.
“I would like to thank all party and councillor colleagues, as well as officers for their support over the past ten years, alongside those within the communities I’ve represented. I wish them all the very best for the future.”
SNP Group Leader, Councillor Craig Walker, paid tribute to Cllr Ford’s contributions as a councillor.
“I’m really sorry to see Julie stepping back from the council,” he said. “As her ward colleague, I’ve seen first-hand the care and commitment she’s brought to our community over the past decade. She’s been a great colleague, and I’ll really miss working with her.
“I wish her all the very best for the next chapter of her public service, and we’ll now begin the process of selecting our candidate for the by-election. I’m looking forward to the campaign ahead.”
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