Local Elections 2014: What issues will you be raising with candidates on the door?

ThisRegard · 20-05-2014 9:38pm

You could end up seeing groupings similar to the technical groups in the dail.

Kiwi_knock · 20-05-2014 9:44pm

At least the independents would have a bit more freedom to make decisions, instead of the party candidates having to toe the party line.

athtrasna · 20-05-2014 9:51pm

ThisRegard wrote: »

You could end up seeing groupings similar to the technical groups in the dail.

That's a total mismatch of a group, socialists with Shane Ross? Can't see that happening on Fingal...you only have to go a few posts back to see posts about Left Independents and Right Independents. I fear Independents prey on fears about parties but you don't have to go back too far to see how Independents kept the worst government the country has had in power and led to the start of this totally disastrous recession.

athtrasna · 20-05-2014 9:54pm

BTW I see MacManus makes the Life Institute approved candidate list...yet another reason for me not to vote for him http://www.thelifeinstitute.net/am_cms_media/uploaded/l/0e3243629_1400611758_localelectioncandidate-list.pdf

eviltwin · 20-05-2014 9:59pm

athtrasna wrote: »

BTW I see MacManus makes the Life Institute approved candidate list...yet another reason for me not to vote for him http://www.thelifeinstitute.net/am_cms_media/uploaded/l/0e3243629_1400611758_localelectioncandidate-list.pdf

Fair dues to Iona for making it so easy for me to see who not to vote for

Zaph · 20-05-2014 10:03pm

The problem I have with the Independents is that I know absolutely nothing at all about them. There's very little information about them, their policies or, most importantly, their backgrounds. I really don't want to end up voting for someone who is or was closely connected to organisations that I have no time at all for. I've seen this happen in a previous constituency I lived in where a candidate looked like they were worth a vote until I discovered very close to polling day that they had kept their involvement with one such group rather quiet. So that leaves me with an uninspiring and rather motley bunch from the main parties and groups to choose from.

Grudaire · 20-05-2014 10:06pm

Like *Cough* Hall, *Cough* Mary Martin?

athtrasna · 20-05-2014 10:08pm

Grudaire wrote: »

Like *Cough* Hall, *Cough* Mary Martin?

And for the other thread...a certain Mr Hall for the Dail ex Fianna Fail

Kev. · 22-05-2014 12:23pm

My dog was going mental this morning at 06.30.

Letterbox was full of leaflets from FG.What a time to deliver them...

Ive txt the candidates about it and havent got a response .

Typical FG

ThisRegard · 22-05-2014 1:13pm

It was most likely a third party delivering them, same type of guys who deliver your take away menus.

folan · 22-05-2014 1:17pm

ThisRegard wrote: »

It was most likely a third party delivering them, same type of guys who deliver your take away menus.

or the clothes charities, at 5:30 am.

a question i am damning myself for not asking at any stage was about the parks, and their cleanliness. the last week or so, the one nearest the house has been covered in litter, from chip bags to glass bottles and anything in between!

Kiwi_knock · 22-05-2014 1:17pm

I think nearly all of FG leaflets to my door this year have been delivered by paid delivery men. They are stuck in with the Centra and Supervalu leaflets. It is probably an easier way of getting to every house in the constituency, and also a way of avoiding having to deal with people at the door.

January · 22-05-2014 1:59pm

Kiwi_knock wrote: »

I think nearly all of FG leaflets to my door this year have been delivered by paid delivery men. They are stuck in with the Centra and Supervalu leaflets. It is probably an easier way of getting to every house in the constituency, and also a way of avoiding having to deal with people at the door.

Our postman has delivered most of the political stuff over the last week or two.

Grudaire · 22-05-2014 2:12pm

January wrote: »

Our postman has delivered most of the political stuff over the last week or two.

There must be a free delivery for bye-election leaflets at least, they all arrived by post.

MammaZita · 22-05-2014 2:32pm

Unfortunately we only had one caller where I live.

If someone were to call now I'd ask them how they intend to deal with the antisocial behaviour of drug addicts in the Ongar area, terrorising local people. Two separate incidences involving 3 different addicts 2 weeks ago (one in a housibg estate, the second outside a primary school). Anyone know is the methadone unit still in Mountview or where these people are coming from?

Finglas Incubus · 22-05-2014 2:34pm

Grudaire wrote: »

There must be a free delivery for bye-election leaflets at least, they all arrived by post.

You can be sure that someone pays for those leaflets - both for printing and delivery - and in many cases, its the taxpayer who picks up the tab.

For example, the link below outlines election costs for Dublin West candidates in the 2011 by-election:

http://www.sipo.gov.ie/en/Reports/Election-Reports/Dublin-West-Bye-Election-of-27-October-2011/Appendix-1.html

Morag · 22-05-2014 2:57pm

January wrote: »

Our postman has delivered most of the political stuff over the last week or two.

Same here nearly lost my polling card in amongst them when they were heading to the green bin.

Grudaire · 22-05-2014 3:09pm

Finglas Incubus wrote: »

You can be sure that someone pays for those leaflets - both for printing and delivery - and in many cases, its the taxpayer who picks up the tab.

For example, the link below outlines election costs for Dublin West candidates in the 2011 by-election:

http://www.sipo.gov.ie/en/Reports/Election-Reports/Dublin-West-Bye-Election-of-27-October-2011/Appendix-1.html

Of course free does not mean that we're not paying for it. Just that I wouldn't imagine all the smaller parties doing a mailshot if they have limited money.

Very interesting link though!

goat2 · 22-05-2014 5:16pm

Morag wrote: »

Same here nearly lost my polling card in amongst them when they were heading to the green bin.

why is this,
are they afraid to come to our doors, or is it that the bigger populated towns are easier to canvass,
i have seen not one candidate, just loads of paper in post,
but dont know who i will be voting for, but certain of those i will not be voting for

MammaZita · 22-05-2014 5:38pm

goat2 wrote: »

why is this,
are they afraid to come to our doors, or is it that the bigger populated towns are easier to canvass,
i have seen not one candidate, just loads of paper in post,
but dont know who i will be voting for, but certain of those i will not be voting for

Afraid to come to our doors I'd wager.

athtrasna · 22-05-2014 7:52pm

There are two types of election literature, leaflets and Litir um Thoghachain. Leaflets are printed and delivered (or arranged to be delivered) by the candidate /party. No expense to the tax payer.

Litir um Thoghachain is printed by the candidate /party in a general/bye/European/presidential election but passed to An Post. In accordance with the law each card is addressed by An Post to registered voters on the electoral roll. It used to be one per voter but the government changed it to one per household where a house is identifiable by house number /distinct address. The cost of delivering this leaflet is borne by the taxpayer.

Kiwi_knock · 22-05-2014 8:01pm

It takes some doing by a candidate for me to give them a lower preference than the FF, FG or Labour candidates in this election but Mary Martin has accomplished it with her "Womanifesto". Words can not even explain my feelings towards it.

athtrasna · 22-05-2014 8:03pm

Kiwi_knock wrote: »

It takes some doing by a candidate for me to give them a lower preference than the FF, FG or Labour candidates in this election but Mary Martin has accomplished it with her "Womanifesto". Words can not even explain my feelings towards it.

I'm almost gutted I didn't meet her during the campaign, I really wanted to tell her how much she offended me as a woman.

sock puppet · 23-05-2014 12:36am

goat2 wrote: »

why is this,
are they afraid to come to our doors, or is it that the bigger populated towns are easier to canvass,
i have seen not one candidate, just loads of paper in post,
but dont know who i will be voting for, but certain of those i will not be voting for

Weird. We've had canvassers for everyone in and most of the candidates for the local and bye elections. Though I've noticed it's a lot more than we usually get. It could be some sort of herd thing i.e. if no one goes to a particular area then no one has the "advantage", but if one candidate visits a certain area and the rest don't then they have the advantage.

folan · 23-05-2014 9:03am

Civic duty done. Anyone who never arrived at my door once got zero votes. When i thought about it, no one from the Europeans did. Not a single party.

Did make it very easy to vote for the locals though.

January · 23-05-2014 9:43am

folan wrote: »

Civic duty done. Anyone who never arrived at my door once got zero votes. When i thought about it, no one from the Europeans did. Not a single party.

Did make it very easy to vote for the locals though.

If I based my voting preferences on that I wouldn't be voting. Not one person called to my door, and I was here all the time cos I have a newborn to look after...

ThisRegard · 23-05-2014 10:09am

folan wrote: »

Civic duty done. Anyone who never arrived at my door once got zero votes.

Looks like I'm voting Labour so !

ciaran76 · 23-05-2014 10:36am

We had our first politican to knock on our door on Weds since the house was built back in 2005.

I've read all pamphlets that were in my letterbox and basically they were all the same.

All that have a seat at the moment basically said the same thing.

Those who are not in power said they would change everything.

Leroy42 · 23-05-2014 10:47am

It strikes me as really odd behaviour in relation to the canvassing. Whatever about leaflets, surely a candidate gets more out of meeting the people and being able to get across his/her ideas. I have only had one TD call to the house in the last 5 years (a few months before the last election) and tbf he took the time to listen to what I had to say and made his arguements.

How can people vote for someone they haven't even met? If they didn't bother to even visit you why do you think they will bother trying to work for you?

Another issue is that on many of these media 'walkalongs' during the campaign the candidates seem to visit a lot of estates during the day,so out of 20 houses they might to a response from 5. I assume they can then say then knocked on everyones door, but why not do things in the evening, etc.

Just seems to be that they avoid the public, they state that they want to act for the public!

MammaZita · 23-05-2014 11:01am

Paul Donnelly was the only candidate that knocked on my door. Whether or not you support his party, he is the only local candidate that actually works and has a presence in the community outside of election time.

Grudaire · 23-05-2014 11:05am

MammaZita wrote: »

Paul Donnelly was the only candidate that knocked on my door. Whether or not you support his party, he is the only local candidate that actually works and has a presence in the community outside of election time.

He's never knocked on my door..

You'll find that a few (definitely not all) candidates are active outside of election time. But they do focus on their 'core' areas. Paul Donnelly thinks he can get votes where you live, but not where I live, other candidates feel the opposite.

Grudaire · 23-05-2014 11:10am

Leroy42 wrote: »

Another issue is that on many of these media 'walkalongs' during the campaign the candidates seem to visit a lot of estates during the day,so out of 20 houses they might to a response from 5. I assume they can then say then knocked on everyones door, but why not do things in the evening, etc.

Just seems to be that they avoid the public, they state that they want to act for the public!

I think most candidates do their 'media' stuff during the day so they can get sunny pictures and during unproductive time as it's time consuming. Saving the real canvassing to evening time.. But that's just guesswork!

Out of curiousity have you ever gotten in contact with your local politicians on any issue? Part of the reason I helped out with Roderics campaign is that many moons ago I emailed all TDs and a few hopefuls, and he was the only one who got back and actually answered the question. Most didn't even respond.

folan · 23-05-2014 11:12am

January wrote: »

If I based my voting preferences on that I wouldn't be voting. Not one person called to my door, and I was here all the time cos I have a newborn to look after...

thats shocking. how does anyone expect you to support them in a local election when they cant make the effort to talk to you

MammaZita · 23-05-2014 11:19am

Grudaire wrote: »

He's never knocked on my door..

You'll find that a few (definitely not all) candidates are active outside of election time. But they do focus on their 'core' areas. Paul Donnelly thinks he can get votes where you live, but not where I live, other candidates feel the opposite.

Well I'm not aware of any of the other candidates doing anything for my local community over the last 3-5 years. If they have they've been very modest and have not had a visible presence. Certainly not the areas surrounding me (Clonee/Ongar/Clonsilla/Hartstown).

folan · 23-05-2014 11:21am

zero SF knocked on my door. And if any leaflets were dropped in, i never saw any

Pat Dunne · 23-05-2014 11:51am

MammaZita wrote: »

Paul Donnelly was the only candidate that knocked on my door. Whether or not you support his party, he is the only local candidate that actually works and has a presence in the community outside of election time.

I live in the adjoining estate to him and in all the time I have lived here he has never called either during or outside of the election campaign. The only leaflet I ever see from him are during election time.

MammaZita · 23-05-2014 11:52am

Pat Dunne wrote: »

I live in the adjoining estate to him and in all the time he has never called. Or dropped in a leaflet outside of election time.

That's shocking

Godge · 23-05-2014 11:56am

MammaZita wrote: »

Paul Donnelly was the only candidate that knocked on my door. Whether or not you support his party, he is the only local candidate that actually works and has a presence in the community outside of election time.

Have never seen Paul Donnelly involved in anything.

A SF presence in the community isn't always a good thing.

Godge · 23-05-2014 12:04pm

Leroy42 wrote: »

It strikes me as really odd behaviour in relation to the canvassing. Whatever about leaflets, surely a candidate gets more out of meeting the people and being able to get across his/her ideas. I have only had one TD call to the house in the last 5 years (a few months before the last election) and tbf he took the time to listen to what I had to say and made his arguements.

How can people vote for someone they haven't even met? If they didn't bother to even visit you why do you think they will bother trying to work for you?

Another issue is that on many of these media 'walkalongs' during the campaign the candidates seem to visit a lot of estates during the day,so out of 20 houses they might to a response from 5. I assume they can then say then knocked on everyones door, but why not do things in the evening, etc.

Just seems to be that they avoid the public, they state that they want to act for the public!

Your expectations are completely unrealistic.

http://www.bap.ie/dloads/Dublin-15_Socio-Economic_Area_Profile_2009.pdf

According to this the population of Dublin 15 is 90,000. Assume 65,000 are voters. For a candidate to meet every single one of those and spend 15 minutes talking to them to learn about their concerns would take 16,250 hours. Assuming eight hours a day on the campaign trail, that would require 2,031 days. Assume five days a week canvassing for 40 weeks of the year, it would take ten years for the candidate to spend 15 minutes with each voter.

It wouldn't leave much time for doing the job they are elected to do.

People complain about politicians a lot but what do they really expect?

Leroy42 · 23-05-2014 2:26pm

Godge, I agree it is unrealistic.

however, to be visited by 1 candidate in 5 years? The rest didn't bother, or even by their support teams? We are being asked to vote for parties and yet the parties/candidates never look to meet us.

How about doing some surveys? They say they are speaking for the community but seem to also be interested in that every 5 years

MammaZita · 23-05-2014 2:35pm

Godge wrote: »

Have never seen Paul Donnelly involved in anything.

A SF presence in the community isn't always a good thing.

Local GAA, suicide group, drugs action, education, elderly, health, unemployment, as well as assisting our residents association in resolving a dispute with the builder who built our housing estate when our appeals to other parties and candidates were largely ignored.

If there's anyone else locally who has done as much in my area I wish Id known before I cast my ballot this morning.

23-05-2014 3:15pm

Godge wrote: »

Have never seen Paul Donnelly involved in anything.

A SF presence in the community isn't always a good thing.

He's been to every Safer Blanchardstown meeting in Mulhuddart.
Hasn't come to the door though, saw him, Mary Lou and Edmond Lukusa in the Blanchardstown centre. Why they waste their time there when half the people aren't in the constituency is beyond me. It's irritating because I had a few questions that I wanted answered both as a resident and as a student/part-time worker.

KGLady · 23-05-2014 4:34pm

We had a few 'Candidate is in the estate would you like to speak to him/her' but they were mostly evenings and himself deflected them before I knew who it was at the door. Paul Donnelly called during the day and I had a long chat with him and he struck me as being a sincere, dedicated and informed on issues both local and national, I would have huge issues with his Party and I never have voted SF and swore I never would - but he really gave me reason to question that stance and I have yet to vote so I may still give him a preference. Similarly David McGuinness has impressed me through the campaign but I cannot stomach FF - however I figure both those candidates are likely to be more in the running for the Bye Election over the Local. In terms of the local, Margaret Richardson also called in one afternoon and so I politely told her I don't vote FF but wished her luck. Her reaction to my well wishes seemed ... surprised and it did make me pause to wonder what kind of reception she was receiving elsewhere.

Godge · 23-05-2014 4:44pm

MammaZita wrote: »

Local GAA, suicide group, drugs action, education, elderly, health, unemployment, as well as assisting our residents association in resolving a dispute with the builder who built our housing estate when our appeals to other parties and candidates were largely ignored.

If there's anyone else locally who has done as much in my area I wish Id known before I cast my ballot this morning.

I would not vote for FF but David McGuinness and Mags Murray would be at least equally involved in the community.

Hearing of SF and drugs action brings back unhealthy memories of vigilante type action in the 1980s, as for resolving disputes with builders, I wonder how that conversation went.

LoonyLovegood · 23-05-2014 5:07pm

Godge wrote: »

I would not vote for FF but David McGuinness and Mags Murray would be at least equally involved in the community.

Hearing of SF and drugs action brings back unhealthy memories of vigilante type action in the 1980s, as for resolving disputes with builders, I wonder how that conversation went.

I've never heard of Murray doing ANYTHING in the community, unless it's coming up to election time.

MammaZita · 23-05-2014 6:49pm

CTYIgirl wrote: »

I've never heard of Murray doing ANYTHING in the community, unless it's coming up to election time.

Same here- have never heard or seen her outside of election time.

MammaZita · 23-05-2014 6:53pm

Godge wrote: »

I would not vote for FF but David McGuinness and Mags Murray would be at least equally involved in the community.

Hearing of SF and drugs action brings back unhealthy memories of vigilante type action in the 1980s, as for resolving disputes with builders, I wonder how that conversation went.

Well PD is actively involved in assisting addicts get the help they need- more power to him- unlike the other candidates he's a grafter within the community and not afraid to get his hands dirty. In relation to taking on a major developer, he arranged for legal representation.

athtrasna · 23-05-2014 7:34pm

MammaZita wrote: »

Well I'm not aware of any of the other candidates doing anything for my local community over the last 3-5 years. If they have they've been very modest and have not had a visible presence. Certainly not the areas surrounding me (Clonee/Ongar/Clonsilla/Hartstown).

I live in Castleknock LEA but even I know of the work David McGuinness has done for the community in the Mulhuddart ward. And I'm not a FF fan!

CTYIgirl wrote: »

I've never heard of Murray doing ANYTHING in the community, unless it's coming up to election time.

MammaZita wrote: »

Same here- have never heard or seen her outside of election time.

+1 to these. She does nothing, thinks she'll get in on name recognition alone. I tried to email her to get her to take down her illegal poster in our estate but her email kept bouncing back. I'm certainly not a fan of hers and would have been tempted to actively vote against her this morning but there were so many names on the ballot paper it was just too much hard work so I only gave a few preferences.

Hilly Bill · 23-05-2014 9:49pm

MammaZita wrote: »

Unfortunately we only had one caller where I live.

If someone were to call now I'd ask them how they intend to deal with the antisocial behaviour of drug addicts in the Ongar area, terrorising local people. Two separate incidences involving 3 different addicts 2 weeks ago (one in a housibg estate, the second outside a primary school). Anyone know is the methadone unit still in Mountview or where these people are coming from?

Any drug addiction problems in Ongar has nothing to do with Mountview.

Hilly Bill · 23-05-2014 9:52pm

Kiwi_knock wrote: »

It takes some doing by a candidate for me to give them a lower preference than the FF, FG or Labour candidates in this election but Mary Martin has accomplished it with her "Womanifesto". Words can not even explain my feelings towards it.

Same here. Strange that there was no mention of that on the ballot paper. If i hadnt have seen her posters then i could have given her one of the lower preference instead on nothing like i did.

Local Elections 2014: What issues will you be raising with candidates on the door?

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