John was first elected as a Councillor for Mid Berwickshire in 2012 and again in 2017 and 2022, alongside his colleague Mark Rowley.
John gives us some insight into his activity within the Mid Berwickshire and wider Borders community, and his role within the Scottish Borders Council:
"I am seen by my group colleagues as the left of centre councillor due to the many champion roles I have, and projects I promote within the council, such as Equality and Diversity, Armed Forces and Veterans Champion and Men’s Shed Champion. Each of these roles that bring me into contact with all parts of the Borders.
"I have been an active member of the Living Wage Group encouraging Border Businesses to pay the living wage where possible. I have recently volunteered to part of a working group to bring forward an anti-poverty strategy for the Scottish Borders Council.
"As the councillor for Mid-Berwickshire, I am acutely aware of the damage that the Covid-19 pandemic has caused to families that were just about managing, and that they are now left struggling to make ends meet. So, to me, it is very important that any strategy that we come forward with is far-reaching and captures this group as well.
"I really love the work I do as a councillor free of an executive post so that I can concentrate on my Ward and the local community.
If you would like to get in touch with John, you can contact him on [email protected]