2014 Local Elections Greystones Area

Cheeky Chops

So the Fine Gael ticket has been announced for our area:

David O'Reilly, Cllr. Grainne McLoughlin, Liz Dillon and Cllr. Derek Mitchell.

Charlie-Bravo

Did I see the Wicklow Times mentioned George Jones will not contesting the next local elections?

Annasopra

Yes George Jones isnt running
Im fairly sure FF selected Kathleen Kelleher and Taragh Hanley

pixbyjohn

Local Election Candidate 2014 by pixbyjohn, on Flickr

FirstIn

He's getting my vote.

Cheeky Chops

That's a great picture John! Go Dustin!

I actually cannot believe that Derek Mitchell, Grainne McLoughlin and Kathleen Kelleher have the cheek, the bare faced cheek, to stand for re-election! I'd like to see them come knocking at me door.

Cerco

Cheeky Chops wrote: »

So the Fine Gael ticket has been announced for our area:

David O'Reilly, Cllr. Grainne McLoughlin, Liz Dillon and Cllr. Derek Mitchell.

David O'Reilly, : Never heard of him!
Cllr. Grainne McLoughlin : The only one, of this lot, I might consider.
Liz Dillon : Never heard of her!
Cllr. Derek Mitchell: Don't want to hear of him!

pixbyjohn

Cerco wrote: »

David O'Reilly, : Never heard of him!
Cllr. Grainne McLoughlin : The only one, of this lot, I might consider.
Liz Dillon : Never heard of her!
Cllr. Derek Mitchell: Don't want to hear of him!

As far as I know David O'Reilly is involved with Greystones Tidy Town who do great work in the area.

No doubt we will all know these and all the other candidates during the next year in the run up to the election

pixbyjohn

Ahead of a Fine Gael Convention for the Greystones Electoral Area r Cllr George Jones has confirmed that it’s not his intention to be a candidate in next year’s local elections.



Cllr Jones said “in 2014 I would hope to complete 35 years “Serving Wicklow for the People of Wicklow” and I feel it’s time to move on from local government politics and allow new candidates to serve the community.



Since 1979 I have had the privilege to serve the Greystones Electoral area on Wicklow County Council and from 1984 to serve on Greystones Town Council, I have been honoured by the voters of this area who in all local elections since 1979 have shown their confidence in me by re electing me on each occasion.



When I first stood for election in 1979 Greystones and surrounding areas were totally forgotten by Wicklow County Council and all other local agencies and yet the area was showing huge growth in population. George became the first Fine Gael Councillor since Dr Paddy Hickey (Rugby Club called after him) was a councillor in the 1940’s.



During those years since 1979 Cllr Jones said “I have been to the fore front of all campaigns to bring real change and improvements to the area and I am delighted to be able to say as I depart the Local Government stage “Greystones after it’s growth is now a very vibrant town with some of the best facilities in the country. The area surrounding Greystones has all shown growth and has become a great place to live for the many thousands who adopted this place as their home.



Cllr Jones said “besides the vast improvements to the area he felt really delighted with some key achievements such as the extension of the DART, the sporting facilities including the Swimming pool, establishment of a Town Council, commercial base of the town with the right mix of shops and businesses ,

The La Touche Legacy Committee and the partnership with Wurzburg Germany. In my work with Wurzburg I was delighted to be awarded the Partnership Medal by the Lord Mayor and City Council of Wurzburg in 2010.



Cllr Jones thanked the voters for showing their great confidence in me since 1979, my Fine Gael colleagues on both Greystones and Wicklow County Councils for their support , the staff of both bodies for their assistance during the past 34 years and of course finally my wife Joan and two children Richard and Chris for their loyal support and understanding during my long years in public life.



Cllr Jones said “I will continue to work in the interest of the community until next years elections and will also be working actively to ensure Fine Gael retain it’s strong representation on the new Council in 2014

jayobray

Cheeky Chops wrote: »

That's a great picture John! Go Dustin!

I actually cannot believe that Derek Mitchell, Grainne McLoughlin and Kathleen Kelleher have the cheek, the bare faced cheek, to stand for re-election! I'd like to see them come knocking at me door.

I have no problem with them standing for re-election, for two reasons; 1. Fair play to them for doing it, there's enough people that give out but won't put themselves forward; and 2. It lets them know what we really think of them and gives us a chance to get rid of them, if that's what enough of us want!

pixbyjohn

jayobray wrote: »

there's enough people that give out but won't put themselves forward;

Very well put

Cheeky Chops

Historically WCC has been full of people who enjoy going to the opening of an envelope. The vast majority do not have the skill set to be involved in key decision making with huge budgets at their fingertips. Local government, in this county anyway, has been a farce and exemplifies parish politics. Most of those people meeting in the Chambers and making serious budgetary and planning issues wouldn't be able to organise a piss up in a brewery - IMO.

Voter turnout is at fault, a lack of credible candidates is at fault and a failure to explain to the electorate the importance of local government is at fault. Hopefully this debacle will lead to new, intelligent, proactive and fresh candidates coming through.

And no I don't think they are great for putting themselves up for election in the past. If you were involved with WCC in any way you would see the ridiculous amount of socialising and junkets taking place, trips around the world - all paid for by the tax payer.

jayobray

I am very well aware of WCC's limitations, from a personal and professional point of view. Anyone can put themselves forward for election, if there is a lack of credible candidates (which I agree with) then that indicates a level of apathy in the general population. I know a number of people not happy with local government in Wicklow who have put themselves forward, some successfully, some not, and while I wouldn't say anyone's great for putting themselves forward, I would have a certain level of admiration for them doing it.

Local government should exemplify parish politics, the real problem is that national politics should not, yet successive governments (since the state was founded) have not given proper structured power to local government as they have tried to keep the parish pump aspect for themselves, mainly to take the credit for anything that goes on in their areas, and therefore central control has always be a problem.

I agree, I would love to see capable and intelligent candidates coming through (they must put themselves forward first of course) but there must also be a framework in place so that they will be able to use the skills they have without constantly banging their heads off brick walls trying to get something done or becoming frustrated at the lack of real power to do it.