EVERY political party at Holyrood now has at least one councillor in office after several were automatically elected ahead of May's vote.
As each of Scotland's 32 councils released its final list of candidates, many wards came out uncontested.
And as a result, the candidates can breathe a sigh of relief as they will face no competition at the ballot box and thus will automatically get a seat in their respective chambers.
In Inverclyde East, the SNP's Chris Curley, Labour's Stephen McCabe and Conservative David Wilson – who are all sitting councillors – will all return to the municipal buildings in Greenock filling the three spots available in that area.
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Councillor Curley said it was an honour to get the chance to represent his ward again, but he admitted he would miss making his case on the doorsteps.
He told The National: "It does feel really strange.
"Of course, it's an honour to represent my ward again and I am looking forward to working with my fellow councillors.
"But equally I would have liked the chance to make my case and get that buy-in from the residents.
"It's a strange experience to be part of the democratic process but also not.
"There were other candidates that stood last time but there's a balance between the three parties in the ward and I think that's unlikely to change and that's obviously how they saw it too."
Meanwhile, up in Moray, the Buckie ward's three seats were uncontested with Conservative Neil McLennan, Liberal Democrat Christopher Thomas Price and the SNP's Sonya Warren all elected.
In the Shetland North ward, Independents Emma MacDonald and Andrea Manson and Labour's Tom Morton have all got seats while in the North Isles ward – also in Shetland – Independents Duncan Anderson and Ryan Thomson have been elected with a by-election to follow at a later date for the third vacant spot in that area.
For Highland Council, Andrew Baldrey of the Greens, LibDem John Grafton and Liz Saggers of the Tories have been elected to represent the Caol and Mallaig ward.
Independent Kenneth John Maclean will be automatically elected in May for the Barraigh agus Bhatarsaigh ward of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and a by-election will follow for the second seat later.
Also for that council, the Sgìr Ùige agus Carlabhagh ward was under-contested so Tory Ranald Fraser will definitely get a seat with another by-election to follow, while in the Sgìre an Rubha ward, Independents Norrie MacDonald and Finlay Stewart will be automatically elected in May.
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