This article is from page 16 of the 2013-02-05 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 16 JPG
JUST three of Clare’s 32 county council members admitted this week that they are still considering whether or not they will contest the local election next year.
With just 15 months to go until what is likely to be one of the most hotly contested local elections, councillors are nervously awaiting the announcement of the Boundary Commission before they show their cards.
The majority of those who said they intend to run added an appendage to say that they could reconsider their decision after the new electoral areas in a significantly smaller council are announced this summer.
For the first time in the history of the State, there will be no town council elections, adding potentially 30 more experienced councillors to the race.
The county council is also expected to be reduced by four members to 28, adding to the pressure.
Among those admitting to not having their mind made up are Cllr Sonny Scanlon (FG), Michael Kelly (FF) and Cllr Tommy Brennan (Ind).
The experienced politicians gave a mix of reasons – from the boundary, support from their respective parties and their health and interest come June 2014 – for their indecisiveness.
Among those adding a health warning to their own intentions to run was Cllr Tom McNamara (FF) who said, “I will leave it entirely up to the people of the party if they want me to stand again.”
Cllr PJ Kelly (FF) was also allowing for some divine intervention adding “the Lord willing” to his responses.
Cllr Patricia McCarthy (Ind) warned that the new structure of electing local Government favoured political parties, and the delay in announcing the new boundary discouraged new blood from entering the race.
Not often in agreement on issues, Cllr Gerry Flynn (Ind) agreed with his Shannon colleague that the structure favoured the parties but, despite that, “his health allowing” he is going back on the hustings.
“I have been preparing for this election since the last election. I am a full-time representative,” he said.
And while the county councillors can afford to remain coy about their final decisions, it is the outgoing town councillors who will eventually become king-makers, as their potential entry to the county council race could see a lot of familiar face leaving the chamber whether they opt to or not.
At the time of press, The Clare People was unable to contact Cllr John Crowe and Cllr Oliver Garry for their responses.