A RETIRED rector of the Scottish Episcopal Church, a United Nations adviser and a university outreach worker for care leavers will head up the Scottish Green Party slate in the 2022 East Lothian Council elections, the party announced today.

At an event in Dunbar with co-leader of the Scottish Greens Lorna Slater MSP, the party confirmed the four candidates who will join Tim Porteus, who was recently confirmed as standing in the Preston Seton Gosford ward.

READ MORE: Storyteller Tim Porteus standing for Greens in Preston Seton Gosford by-election

David Mumford will contest the Dunbar & East Linton ward, where the Greens scored their highest vote share in the last East Lothian Council elections in 2017.

Innerwick-based David retired as rector of the Scottish Episcopal Church in Brechin in 2015 and, prior to being ordained, worked as a social worker and as head of an international organisation promoting non-violent conflict resolution.

A keen swimmer and Brechin City football fan, he said: “I want everyone in East Lothian to be decently housed and I want there to be adequate social care for all who need it.

“We also need to see East Lothian do their part in safeguarding the environment. The more Green Party councillors there are, the more effective we can be.”

In Musselburgh, the party will be represented by Shona McIntosh.

Shona works for Edinburgh Napier University on a project supporting care-experienced learners. She has a young family, is a keen runner and is also active in the campaign to stop the construction of 5.5km of concrete walls around the Musselburgh coast and riverside as part of the town's flood protection scheme.

Shona said: “We must get East Lothian Council to commit to a more ambitious target on reaching net zero and prioritise natural flood defences over concrete walls.

“The council must also listen to young people more on what they want from their education and work harder on tackling inequality in attainment and job prospects.”

An international environment and development expert will stand for the Greens in North Berwick Coastal.

Jacq Cottrell advises governments in developing countries on green economy and sustainability, working for the United Nations and national development agencies.

Jacq said: “I have come across so many exciting and innovative ideas for low-carbon transition in my professional life and I would love to use my role as a councillor to bring them to East Lothian and make it the greenest council in Scotland.”

In Haddington & Lammermuir, Jackie Swailes will contest the election.

A business manager for the Green group of councillors in Edinburgh and a keen walker, on why she is standing for election Jackie says: “I firmly believe that everyone should be given the opportunity to vote Green and send a message to the council that we must meet our net-zero obligations.

"Our campaign will bring forward ideas to improve the lives of East Lothian residents and build a supportive and inclusive community.”

It was confirmed last month that Tim Porteus would contest the by-election and the May 2022 full council elections for the party in the Preston Seton Gosford ward.

Tim works for an early-years charity that helps children and families. He lives in Prestonpans with his wife Kate and three youngest children, who all attend schools in the town.

Outside of work, he also enjoys hill-walking, history, folklore and storytelling – he writes the weekly Tim's Tales column in the Courier.

Lorna Slater MSP said: “I’ve seen first-hand the amazing work charities, social enterprises and community organisations do in Dunbar and across East Lothian.

"If elected, our Green candidates will help boost these organisations further and ensure a better, brighter future for the county.

“East Lothian is a beautiful part of the world to live and work, but it is not without its challenges. The Green candidates I spoke to are brimming with ideas to transform East Lothian and deliver real positive change.

“This is a very strong slate of candidates who will bring real-world expertise if elected to the council and I’m delighted to give them my full support.”

The party is still to confirm if it will stand a candidate in the Tranent, Macmerry and Wallyford ward.

Simon Francis, co-convenor of the East Lothian Green Party, said: I would urge everyone to vote 1 for Scottish Green candidates in May 2022 and trust them to serve the communities they love.”

The Greens are the first party to announce a full slate of candidates for next May's council elections.

Labour has so far announced four candidates: sitting councillors Shamin Akhtar and John McMillan in the Haddington and Lammermuir ward, and Fiona Dugdale and Colin McGinn in the Tranent, Wallyford and Macmerry ward, are all seeking re-election.

The Liberal Democrats have also announced that Stuart Crawford will stand for them in the Haddington and Lammermuir ward.

Meanwhile, it has also been previously confirmed that Conservative councillors Jane Henderson and Craig Hoy, Labour pair Jim Goodfellow and Fiona O'Donnell, and the SNP's Paul McLennan will not be seeking re-election. Mr Hoy and Mr McLennan were both elected to the Scottish Parliament in May.