Falkirk's longest serving councillor steps down after almost 40 years

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Warm tributes were paid to Falkirk’s longest serving councillor, David Alexander, who will not be seeking re-election on May 5, after 36 years in the role.

Once affectionately nicknamed ‘the boy David’ by older colleagues, SNP Councillor David Alexander, 64, is retiring due to ill health, having led his party from strength to strength locally.

He is one of 10 councillors who won’t return to the chamber and members of all political parties paid tribute at the council’s final meeting of the term.The leader of Falkirk Council, Cecil Meiklejohn, who succeeded Mr Alexander as the SNP group leader, described him as her “closest friend and political mentor.”She said: “David has made a huge contribution to local government, to the communities he has represented over the years and to Falkirk Council.“He would often go the extra mile, often to the frustration of officers but ensuring that he got the best possible outcome for his constituents.”He first stood for council in the Victoria ward in 1980, then again in 1984 – but he didn’t become a councillor until 1988, with a by-election victory.Councillor Meiklejohn said: “He quickly established himself and also won the respect of other elected members across the political divide, receiving praise and encouragement following debates within the chamber.”The leader of the SNP group at the time, John Constable, recognised Mr Alexander’s talent and became his mentor.In 1992, Mr Alexander took over the SNP group leader when Mr Constable became the Provost.Councillor Meiklejohn said: “He was affectionately known as ‘the boy David’, reflecting on his youth compared to others.”Despite several boundary changes to the ward and voting systems, Councillor Alexander was returned time and time