# 1977 Sutherland District Council election

Elections to Sutherland District Council were held on 3 May 1977, on the same day as the other Scottish local government elections. This was the second election to the district council following the local government reforms in 1974.
The election used the original 12 wards created by the Formation Electoral Arrangements in 1974 and two wards added to the district council due to boundary alterations between Sutherland and Caithness District Councils. Each ward elected one councillor using first-past-the-post voting.
As with other elections in the Highland region, no candidates were affiliated with any political parties and the 14 councillors elected were all independents. In total, nine of the 14 wards were uncontested.

## Background

Prior to the election, alterations were made to the area controlled by Sutherland and Caithness District Councils. An area in the west of Caithness including Tongue, Farr and Strathy was transferred to Sutherland. Before reorganisation in 1974, the area had been part of Sutherland County. As a result, the Tongue and Farr ward was transferred from Caithness and a new Strathy ward was created.

## Results

1977 Sutherland District Council election result :
| Party | Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| | Independent | 14 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 2,989 | |
Source:

## Ward results
### Dornoch Burgh

Dornoch Burgh :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | D. S. Frier | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 668 | |
| | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent |
Source:

### Dornoch East and West

Dornoch East and West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | I. G. Munro | 330 | 66.7 |
| | Independent | D. A. MacRae | 97 | 19.6 |
| | Independent | R. K. Smith | 68 | 13.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 233 | 47.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 495 | 63.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 787 | |
| | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent |
Source:

### Creich East and West

Creich East and West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | A. M. Gilmour | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 849 | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |
Source:

### Kincardine

Kincardine :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | E. M. A. Munro | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 537 | |
| | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent |
Source:

### Rogart and Golspie Rural

Rogart and Golspie Rural :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | D. Gordon | 211 | 54.0 |
| | Independent | C. C. D. Kinghorn | 180 | 46.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 31 | 8.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 391 | 63.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 616 | |
| | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent |
Source:

### Golspie Village

Golspie Village :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | D. I. MacRae | 391 | 60.9 | 4.4 |
| | Independent | K. F. MacLean | 251 | 39.1 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 140 | 21.8 | 25.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 642 | 66.5 | 10.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 965 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | 4.4 | |
Source:

### Lairg

Lairg :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | W. G. Johnston | 266 | 62.9 | 2.6 |
| | Independent | N. G. MacDonald | 157 | 37.1 | 2.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 109 | 25.8 | 5.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 423 | 59.5 | 12.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 714 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | 2.6 | |
Source:

### Assynt and Stoer

Assynt and Stoer :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | F. H. W. Matheson | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 661 | |
| | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent |
Source:

### Eddrachillis and Durness

Eddrachillis and Durness :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | L. MacKenzie | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 820 | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |
Source:

### Clyne

Clyne :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | R. MacLeod | 424 | 70.9 | New |
| | Independent | W. Sutherland | 174 | 29.1 | 37.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 250 | 41.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 598 | 62.9 | 7.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 953 | | |
| | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Swing | 54.3 | |
Source:

### Loth and Kildonan South

Loth and Kildonan South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | R. R. MacDonald | 228 | 51.8 | 5.5 |
| | Independent | I. MacKay | 212 | 48.2 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 16 | 3.6 | 11.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 440 | 68.4 | 2.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 646 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | 5.5 | |
Source:

### Kildonan North

Kildonan North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | J. O. F. MacKay | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 712 | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |
Source:

### Tongue and Farr

Tongue and Farr :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | K. S. B. Henderson | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 867 | |
| | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent |
Source:

### Strathy

Strathy :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | E. B. M. Jardine | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 557 | |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |
Source: