Enforced change and numerous retirements at Highland Council will guarantee new faces at the region’s biggest local authority next month.
A total of 165 candidates have registered for the vote on May 4.
The Press and Journal understands opposition parties have already attempted to woo independents who led a minority administration since the collapse of the previous SNP-Liberal Democrat-Labour coalition.
The number of Highland wards will reduce from 22 to 21 with the loss of one in Caithness.
There will fewer councillors overall: 74 compared with the previous 80. Four-councillor wards become three in Inverness Central, Ness-side, Culloden & Ardersier and on the Black Isle.
Muir of Ord pensioner David Allison who recently admitted posting an abusive online message about local councillor Angela MacLean is challenging her in Dingwall Seaforth. A court sentence on him was deferred until September 14 for good behaviour.
The respective group leaders are all standing for re-election.
North, West and Central Sutherland
Malcolm Bangor-Jones, Ind; Kirsteen Currie, SNP; Hugh Morrison, Ind; Linda Munro, LD; Brendan O’Hanrahan, Ind; Michael Simpson, Ind; William Sinclair, Lab; Russell Taylor, Con.
Thurso and Northwest Caithness
Gillian Coghill, Ind; Tommy Farmer, Ind; Alexander Glasgow, LD; Donnie Mackay, Ind; Struan Mackie, Con; Sandra Owsnett, Green; Matthew Reiss, Ind; Karl Rosie, SNP; Roger Saxon, Lab.
Wick and East Caithness
Raymond Bremner, SNP; Bill Fernie, Ind; Luke Graham, LD; Neil MacDonald, Lab; Willie Mackay, Ind; Linda Malik, Ind; Catherine Patterson, Ind; Andrew Sinclair, Con; Nicola Sinclair, Ind.
East Sutherland and Edderton
Harry Christian, Scottish Libertarian Party; Richard Gale, LD; George Gunn; Deirdre Mackay, Lab; Jim McGillivray, Ind; Graham Phillips, SNP; Eva Short, Con.
Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh
Christopher Birt, Lab; Biz Campbell, Ind; Ian Cockburn, SNP; Topher Dawson, Green; Richard Green, Ind; Alexander Macinnes, SNP; Derek Macleod, Con; Kate Stephen, LD.
Cromarty Firth
Bill Curran, Lab; Mike Finlayson, Ind; Sheila Fletcher, Ind; Mary Macdonald, LD; Pauline Munro, SNP; Martin Rattray, Ind; Ian Smith, Con; Maxine Smith, SNP; Carolyn Wilson, Ind.
Tain and Easter Ross
Ron Ferguson, Con; Derek Louden, SNP; Alasdair Rhind, Ind; Fiona Robertson, Ind; Sandra Skinner, Ind; Jamie Stone, LD.
Dingwall and Seaforth
Dave Allison (No party listed); David Jardine, Lab; Reiner Luyken, Con; Graham Mackenzie, SNP; Alister Mackinnon, Ind; Angela MacLean, LD; Margaret Paterson, Ind.
Black Isle
Gordon Adam, LD; Jennifer Barclay, Ind; Craig Fraser, SNP; Michael Macmillan, Lab; Bev Smith, Ind; Rainie Smith, Con; Vikki Trelfer, Green.
Skye
Campbell Dickson, Ind; John Finlayson, Ind; Hamish Fraser, Ind; John Gordon, Ind; Ronald Macdonald, Ind; Calum Macleod, SNP; Ken Macleod, LD; Malcolm Macleod, Con; Drew Millar, Ind; Peter O’Donnghaile, Lab; Ian Renwick, SNP; Moira Scobbie, Ind.
Caol and Mallaig
Susan Carstairs, Lab; Allan Henderson, Ind; Billy Maclachlan, SNP; Denis Rixson, LD; Liz Saggers, Con; Liam Simmonds, Ind; Ben Thompson, Ind.
Aird and Loch Ness
Chris Ballance, Green; Helen Carmichael, Ind; George Cruickshank, Con; Margaret Davidson, Ind; Jean Davis, LD; Matt Friess, SNP; Emma Knox, SNP.
Inverness West
Bill Boyd, SNP; Allan Duffy, Ind; Adie Eghtedar, Lab; Alex Graham, LD; Cath Macinnes, SNP; Fergus Mackenzie, Con; Graham Ross, Ind.
Inverness Central
Janet Campbell, Ind; Russell Deacon, Green; Donnie Kerr, Ind; Margot Kerr, LD; Richard Laird, SNP; Donald Mackenzie, Con; Bet McAllister, Lab; Diane Wilkinson, Ind.
Inverness Ness-side
Alasdair Christie, LD; Ron Macwilliam, SNP; Feargus Murray, Scottish Socialist Party; Fraser Parr, Lab; Jean Slater, Ind; Callum Smith, Con.
Inverness Millburn
Ian Brown, SNP; Zosia Fraser, Ind; Jimmy Gray, Lab; Jackie Hendry, SNP; Isabelle Mackenzie, Con; Anne Thomas, Green; John West, LD.
Culloden and Ardersier
Roddy Balfour, Ind; Glynis Campbell-Sinclair, SNP; Raine Cullen, Con; Thomas Lamont, Ind; Donnie Macleod, Green; Pauline Munro, SNP; Trish Robertson, LD; Matt Wakeling, Lab.
Nairn and Cawdor
Ritchie Cunningham, LD; Laurie Fraser, Ind; Stephen Fuller, SNP; Michael Green, Ind; Tom Heggie, Ind; Liz MacDonald, SNP; Andrew Mackintosh, Lab; Louis McIntosh, Scottish Socialist Party; Paul Mcivor, Ind; Peter Saggers, Con.
Inverness South
Donald Boyd, Scottish Christian Party; Carolyn Caddick, LD; Jim Crawford, Ind; Shaun Fraser, Lab; Ken Gowans, SNP; Michelle Gowans, SNP; Andrew Jarvie, Con; Duncan Macpherson, Ind.
Badenoch and Strathspey
John Bruce, Con; Muriel Cockburn, SNP; Stewart Dick, Ind; Les Durance, Ukip; Pippa Hadley, Green; Bill Lobban, Ind; Donald Macdonald, Ind; Gregor Rimell, LD.
Fort William and Ardnamurchan
Blair Allan, SNP; Andrew Baxter, Ind; Trevor Escott, LD; Joanne Matheson, Ind; Niall McLean, SNP; Ian Ramon, Con; Sally Semple, Lab.
