A candidate in the race for Aberdeen University’s ancient rector position has said allegations of posters being ripped down was “extremely disappointing”, but refused to “point fingers”.
Fiona Kennedy OBE, a singer, actress and broadcaster, said that if she was elected, she would re-open mothballed parts of Marischal College still owned by the university.
She also made pledges to support EU students and campaign for more affordable housing.
In December, the contest was abandoned after a dozen complaints about “campaign irregularities” – understood to include hundreds of posters going missing.
Allegations surfaced about a dirty tricks campaign by supporters of Maggie Chapman, but this was dismissed with Chapman supporters saying they had come down in bad weather.
Later that month, candidate Andrew Bowie, the Conservative MP for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine, withdrew from the race after admitting he feared he might win.
Other candidates now running are Maggie Chapman, co-convener of the Scottish Green party, student Angus Hepburn, student Israr Khan and lawyer James Steel.
Ms Kennedy said: “(The posters missing) was extremely disappointing, it’s not what’s supposed to happen in democratic elections.
“I don’t want to point fingers at any side, I think tempers flared a bit.”
She added that restoring parts of Marischal College to university use could boost footfall in the city centre.
She said: “We have a real jewel in our city with the Mitchell hall- the sense of being in a place that is so historic is wonderful.
“I think Aberdeen is on the way to becoming one of the major European cities and it would be great to get students into the city centre more.”
Last week a bid by students to put forward university cat Buttons hit the headlines with more than 350 students signing a petition for his inclusion.
But university chiefs insist a cat would be unable to fulfil all the duties of the historic role.
Ms Kennedy said: “I thought that was a great bit of fun and a great way to defuse some of the bad feeling there has been from the campaign.”
Ms Chapman added: “I will promote rights for student workers and fight for improved mental health services, so that students can focus on getting the best degree they can.”
The results will be announced at 6pm on Thursday.
