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

LEIN

With local elections (and European elections) taking place on May 23rd, what question will you ask canvassers when they come calling?

What are the issues you care most about on a local level? Any dealbreakers that would turn you on/off a candidate if they aren't on the same line of thinking as you?

Caveat: this thread is for questions only. At a later stage Boards will try to arrange responses from local politicians.

Fiachra2

Hmmmmm......Now what will I be asking them about?

pixbyjohn

As I am a good listener I will ask them " what can you do for me?" .

legrand

pixbyjohn wrote: »

As I am a good listener I will ask them " what can you do for me?" .

PbJ - are you expecting FF canididates to call? :pac: Sure they will offer loads (lets not be worrying about those fellas up there in the big shmoke we'll do things our way locally right? )

pixbyjohn

The FF candidate James Doyle has already called to my house.

pepepe32

well thank god I have cctv watching my door it comes in very handy when the elections come up I wont be answering the door to any of them liars

micandre

They may not want to call...

North Beach Access
The path to the north beach has now completely collapsed from Rathdown Road. When is the council going to fix this.

https://www.google.ie/maps/place/Wicklow/@53.1581266,-6.0738099,17z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x4867b0b5d9502859:0x284e79fbf541a3e7

Pot Holes in Roads
The roads on my estate have pot holes all over. Once a year a gang from the council throw down some poor quality tar which washes off when the rain comes. When are they going to professionally fix roads?

Dog Litter
A 20 minute walk to Greystones has a least 10 deposits that my buggy and 2 child often fail to avoid. What is the candidate going to do?

McDonalds
Although planning permission was refused, for incumbent candidates why did they vote to approve to have a McDonalds next to 2 national schools?

Annasopra

micandre wrote: »

They may not want to call...

North Beach Access
The path to the north beach has now completely collapsed from Rathdown Road. When is the council going to fix this.

https://www.google.ie/maps/place/Wicklow/@53.1581266,-6.0738099,17z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x4867b0b5d9502859:0x284e79fbf541a3e7

Pot Holes in Roads
The roads on my estate have pot holes all over. Once a year a gang from the council throw down some poor quality tar which washes off when the rain comes. When are they going to professionally fix roads?

Dog Litter
A 20 minute walk to Greystones has a least 10 deposits that my buggy and 2 child often fail to avoid. What is the candidate going to do?

McDonalds
Although planning permission was refused, for incumbent candidates why did they vote to approve to have a McDonalds next to 2 national schools?

On McDonalds Councillors do not vote on planning permission applications.

zoobizoo

Joeytheparrot wrote: »

I think that because this is not a Greystones issue it was moved to the Wicklow forum.

aha - I'll delete that so.. thanks

LEIN

It was moved to Wicklow.

Honestly!

Pathetic that moderators won't allow threads on politics on the Greystones forum when most "contentious" issues raised on the forum have roots in the actions/inactions of politicians!

The Hill Billy

PM the mods if you have an issue.

gibbon6

Derek Mitchell called to the door in his trusty wellies seeking my vote. I asked him why he did not support the community plan on the harbour and gave false information on it such as claiming that it would cost over 13 million euros. He mumbled words to the effect that I must be in the give us back our harbour group. He had no interest in explaining himself to me a constituent and a voter. He gave no reasons why he did not support the community plan.

Maudi

Ugh..id be powerhosing my driveway to get rid of that stink.

legrand

Like most people I hate the sight of all these election posters.

But where are the Tom Fortune posters (one of the very few to publicly support the community plan with regards to Harbour)?

He is running..correct?

Annasopra

legrand wrote: »

Like most people I hate the sight of all these election posters.

But where are the Tom Fortune posters (one of the very few to publicly support the community plan with regards to Harbour)?

He is running..correct?

There are a few around at lidl; windgates, tesco

He's not the only to publicly support the community plan. Jennifer Whitmore was involved in drawing it up. Ian McGahon and Nicola Lawless and Jacqui Johnson have publicly stated their support too.

Charlie-Bravo

Tom called to my door, said hello, I took his card. He asked for my vote, I said I'll consider it. Not the worst of them...:) As a candidate, his budget for posters would be minuscule. I believe he deserves some recognition.

I saw some posters around for an Eirigi candidate, I'm not overly familiar with the party and then I saw this shared facebook today abou watermeter sabotage https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PTIV2GNF-g - Even with things going as they are with regards local water issues, I just see this as complete madness.

zoobizoo

astrofluff wrote: »

I saw some posters around for an Eirigi candidate, I'm not overly familiar with the party and then I saw this shared facebook today abou watermeter sabotage https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PTIV2GNF-g - Even with things going as they are with regards local water issues, I just see this as complete madness.

Encouraging vandalism isn't on. We all pay in the end.

Can't imagine many following their example to damage property.

gibbon6

I ask them where do they stand on the community plan for the harbour.

DazMarz

I believe that the candidate you're talking about running for Eirigi would be Sean Doyle. Sean's running the the Wicklow LEA, not Greystones. I don't think Eirigi are running a candidate in the Greystones LEA, but I'm open for correction.

It's just that some areas that would technically be in Greystones LEA border extremely closely with the Wicklow LEA (see the Eden Gate road, areas of Kilpedder/Willow Grove, Kilquade, Killadreenan, Newcastle, etc.) and some Wicklow LEA candidates have their posters there for commuters and others who pass through the area, but live in the Wicklow LEA. And vice-versa.

Annasopra

DazMarz wrote: »

I believe that the candidate you're talking about running for Eirigi would be Sean Doyle. Sean's running the the Wicklow LEA, not Greystones. I don't think Eirigi are running a candidate in the Greystones LEA, but I'm open for correction.

It's just that some areas that would technically be in Greystones LEA border extremely closely with the Wicklow LEA (see the Eden Gate road, areas of Kilpedder/Willow Grove, Kilquade, Killadreenan, Newcastle, etc.) and some Wicklow LEA candidates have their posters there for commuters and others who pass through the area, but live in the Wicklow LEA. And vice-versa.

Some of Seans posters are hanging up in Greystones.

DazMarz

Joeytheparrot wrote: »

Some of Seans posters are hanging up in Greystones.

Really? That's a bit strange. Unless he's standing in both areas?

Jimmy O'Shaughnessy is doing that; he's standing in the Wicklow LEA and the Arklow LEA this time out, as with the re-drawn boundaries his core support areas were split between the two LEA's.

Annasopra

DazMarz wrote: »

Really? That's a bit strange. Unless he's standing in both areas?

Jimmy O'Shaughnessy is doing that; he's standing in the Wicklow LEA and the Arklow LEA this time out, as with the re-drawn boundaries his core support areas were split between the two LEA's.

No he isnt running both. A lot of his supporters are in Greystones but it makes sense in a way - people living in Wicklow lea often travel into Greystones lea

DazMarz

Joeytheparrot wrote: »

No he isnt running both. A lot of his supporters are in Greystones but it makes sense in a way - people living in Wicklow lea often travel into Greystones lea

It does make sense. The cross-"pollination" between the LEA's is astounding. And people have relatives/friends in other LEA's and all that. It all helps.

I know that Charlie Keddy has his name on the ballot in all five LEA's... :eek:

Eponymous

The Labour canvassers are doing their candidates no favours anyway. Despite a sign above the letterbox and my wife standing at the closed door while hanging up a coat and saying "no thank you", he proceeded to shove a flyer through our letterbox anyway. To cap it off, he then kicked through the bush separating ours and our neighbours' driveway to gain access to next door.

I followed him out, shoved the flyer back into his hand and advised him against ignoring the wishes of the electorate.

What pi$$es me off most is that I'm a traditional Labour voter, but this display of sheer ignorance has me fuming and they'll be well done my order of preference now, if they get one at all.

To me, shoving flyers into letterboxes instead of actually knocking on doors means that they don't want dialogue. They've put together some words on paper, but don't want to elaborate on those words or perhaps hear a different viewpoint. Nor do they want to hear what issues we might have that aren't the harbour or the spine road or water charges. If you don't want to speak to us, don't expect to speak for us.

eleMental

I have a No Flyers Please sign on my door and have at this stage received flyers / materials through the letterbox for virtually every candidate running - it seems all of the door-to-door campaigners are not really interested in respecting their electorate's wishes.

on a separate note (and mildly off-topic, sorry) - my neighbor mentioned yesterday that the Labour candidate who called to her door (in the Grove) mentioned a petition that had been created proposing that the last part of the Grove be turned into a cul-de-sac with access to Púroga crèche moved to the road at the SuperValu carpark instead (thus moving the morning/evening speeding parents off a road with kids playing on it!) . she said she'd been contacted about the petition and wanted to get a copy of it. does anyone know anything about where I or she could find out more about this (please PM me if youd prefer). thank you!

Don Osborne Fargo

gibbon6 wrote: »

I ask them where do they stand on the community plan for the harbour.

I agree with gibbon6. If I meet any, I will be telling them I think the harbour is the single biggest local issue for the area. It should have been finished in April 2012, FFS! Two years after the completion date we still face a wasteland.

I will be asking them if they have signed up to the GUBOH pledge on implementing the Community Plan. If they haven't, I will tell them no votes for you, not even a last preference.

If they have, they will get a vote. But I'll be putting all the independents tops, with the parties at the bottom of my list.

Then I'll be taking GUBOH's advice and voting for no other candidates.

Don Osborne Fargo

<<<snip>>>

Mod: I'm sorry but you can't come in here to sway the publics preference on who to vote for. That's not the idea of this thread.

gibbon6

<<<snip>>>

Mod: As above.

LEIN

Folks, just a reminder to read the Op before posting. Some are completely missing the point here.

Have a nice day.

gibbon6

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuAlksupTgg

I now ask them if they are looking for my vote or just introducing themselves to me!

Honestly!

<MOD SNIP> Please read the OP before posting.

That way you don't miss the point of the thread.

Thanks.

Wineman

I would like to ask Derek Mitchell why he proposed that the residents of Charlesland should cover the maintenance of the dual carraigeway that cuts through Charlesland through our service charges? And also how he can sleep at night having voted confidence in County Manager Eddie Sheehy this week?

gibbon6

Wineman wrote: »

I would like to ask Derek Mitchell why he proposed that the residents of Charlesland should cover the maintenance of the dual carraigeway that cuts through Charlesland through our service charges? And also how he can sleep at night having voted confidence in County Manager Eddie Sheehy this week?

Ask Derek Mitchell to ask his best mate Eddie to sell the 1.4022 hectares of land at Three Trouts, Charlesland, Greystones that Wicklow County Council paid €3 million for and use the proceeds to cover the maintenance of the Charlesland Dual Carriageway.

Eponymous

As I consider how best to exercise my franchise, can anyone tell me how many seats we are voting for in this area?

It's important to know so that I give at least that many preferences on my ballot!

pixbyjohn

Greystones have 6 seats on Wicklow County Council

Annasopra

Eponymous wrote: »

As I consider how best to exercise my franchise, can anyone tell me how many seats we are voting for in this area?

It's important to know so that I give at least that many preferences on my ballot!

There are 6 seats but it could goto 9 or 10 counts so every preference could count!

DazMarz

Greystones LEA after Count 4:

DazMarz

Final result of the six councillors elected for the Greystones LEA:

Jennifer Whitmore (Ind)
Tom Fortune (Ind)
Derek Mitchell (FG)
Nicola Lawless (SF)
Gerry Walsh (FF)
Grainne McLoughlin (FG)

Eponymous

Now let's see how long before the posters come down...

Hopefully the result sends a clear message to both those elected in the 9th, 10th and 11th counts that they need now to listen to what their constituents are saying, and also to others thinking of standing in the future that it's possible to get elected with a relatively small number of first preferences if you can get transfers, but also that if you're proving yourself to be someone who takes the community and its concerns seriously and are willing to act on those concerns you will be elected.

legrand

DazMarz wrote: »

Final result of the six councillors elected for the Greystones LEA:

Jennifer Whitmore (Ind)
Tom Fortune (Ind)
Derek Mitchell (FG)
Nicola Lawless (SF)
Gerry Walsh (FF)
Grainne McLoughlin (FG)

50: 50 split between declared Community Plan supporter and others.

On the door step I got the impression from Walsh that he was not supporting Guboh "some of them have entrenched views".

So two camps here - expect some horse trading.

Annasopra

legrand wrote: »

50: 50 split between declared Community Plan supporter and others.

On the door step I got the impression from Walsh that he was not supporting Guboh "some of them have entrenched views".

So two camps here - expect some horse trading.

Walsh didn't support GUBOH because Kathleen Kelleher had a word in his ear.

legrand

Interesting and depressing reading regarding FF/FG pack in Wicklow CoCo (depending what side of the fence you are of course)..

so despite strong showing of Independents recently, it is FF/FG along side 4 other 'independents' who have agreed to join this [voting] pact.

http://wicklowcouncilwatch.com/vance-pact-dominates-new-council/

and Tom Fortune's take as I understand it
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=90760570&postcount=24

Note the Vance/Sheehy relationship and the Mitchel/McGlouglin/Walsh alliance with this group. Does not bode well for Greystones/Harbour issues imo.

Maybe Mitchell's habour dream will come to pass in an acceptable (to him) 20 year time frame. And to the locals who actually care... here's two fingers.

Charlie-Bravo

As Tom Fortune put it, it is disgusting what happened in the first meeting and the obvious relationship between Vance (FF) and the county manager Sheehy just indicates how possibly corrupt the whole process is. And so much for those independents who sold their vote: Miriam Murphy (Arklow), Jim Ruttle (Baltinglass), Christopher Fox (Bray) and Daire Nolan (Wicklow).

At least we did't see any independent traitors from the Greystones LEA. The electorate for those other areas should be straight onto the relevant independent's case for siding with the FF/FG parties. For Greystones it is split with 3 councillors on each side so to speak. And I suppose it shows the 6 councillors in their true light, where the independents are working hard for their Greystones LEA and the party-affiliated ones still up to their old tricks. :rolleyes:

I don't mind political parties as they develop policies to get votes and hopefully they'll be true to their word. But being an independent and selling your vote is hypocritical. It is, as Tom Fortune said, giving two fingers to your voters. Shame on them.

pixbyjohn

It is very naive of a voter to think that an elected Independent councillor will not side with one of the major political parties when it comes to a vote at council. The advantage of being an independent councillor is that you can and do change sides when it suits your cause and the cause of your electorate.
I think it is a bit previous to judge anyone on just 1 meeting. Independent councillors and TDs have always aligned themselves with a major political party to gain favour for their particular goals.
Democracy does work albeit not the way everyone likes.

Annasopra

pixbyjohn wrote: »

It is very naive of a voter to think that an elected Independent councillor will not side with one of the major political parties when it comes to a vote at council.

This.

I am surprised at a lot of online comment outrage in the last few days.

Charlie-Bravo

They are no longer independent if they agree to a pact.

Annasopra

astrofluff wrote: »

They are no longer independent if they agree to a pact.

Why? Independent tds have done deals with government and remained independent

I'm not sure what all the online outrage is about really.

Did people want an independent and Sinn Fein lead Council?

Annasopra

Eponymous wrote: »

As I consider how best to exercise my franchise, can anyone tell me how many seats we are voting for in this area?

It's important to know so that I give at least that many preferences on my ballot!

It went to 11 counts by the way so you could have actually gone more on the ballot than 6!

DazMarz

Fair enough, 4 "independents" (Fox, Murphy, Nolan, Ruttle) voted with FF/FG on the first meeting.

On the other side of that coin, 5 "independents" voted with SF/Green on the first meeting (Cullen, Fortune, Kavanagh, Thornhill, Whitmore). Are they no longer independent? They voted with parties.

The only independent councillor who sided with nobody and went his own way during the first meeting was Joe Behan. All the rest of them voted to work with either of the two factions.

I would also add that some of the "opposition" choices for certain positions was farcial:

-For the position of Cathaoirleach (chairperson), the two candidates were Christopher Fox and Pat Kavanagh. Let's be brutally honest here; the logical choice is clear. Fox is a councillor with over 10 years' experience in WCC, is well liked and well respected across the board and is a fair and decent man. Pat Kavanagh had been on WCC for roughly 2 weeks. Even Joe Behan voted for Christopher Fox.

-For the chair of various SPC's (Strategic Policy Committees), again, it came down to experience and seniority in many cases, as well as the personal popularity of the councillors in question.
-Economic Development & Enterprise was between Pat Casey and Tom Fortune. While both have been on the council since 2004, it is well known that Tom Fortune has ruffled more than a few feathers in his time and Casey has not. Simple.
-Community, Cultural & Social Development was between Jim Ruttle and Pat Kavanagh. Jim Ruttle has been a councillor since the early 1990's and was a Senator in the 1980's. Experience and reliability. Kavanagh, as mentioned before, had only been a councillor for about a fortnight.
-Housing & Corporate Estate was uncontested. John Snell was the only nomination. As this was seen as the "poisoned chalice" SPC, nobody else wanted it. Snell accepted it, and is seen by all sides as a pragmatic, realistic and safe Chairperson. He is a great councillor, but he has his work cut out for him here.
-Transportation & Environment was between Derek Mitchell and Jennifer Whitmore. Again, experience was the big one here. Whitmore was only a councillor for about 2 weeks. Mitchell has been a councillor since 1999. It is also interesting to note that Pat Doran was also interested in chairing this (due to massive roadworks that will be taking place in his district in the coming years), so he will be chairing this SPC from 2017. Again, Doran has been there since 1999 and experience told.
-Planning was between Vincent Blake and Stephen Matthews. Having a Green Party councillor over planning did not sit well with a lot of people, particularly the rural councillors (as the Green Party opposes one-off houses being built in rural areas). Also, Matthews had only been a county councillor for 2 weeks before this AGM. Blake has been there since 1991. Syl Bourke will take over from Blake in 2017, as he has an avid interest in this SPC due to construction works in Arklow, and Bourke has been a councillor since 1999.

Had the candidates been better, they may have snuck in. But the fact is that they put up candidates who were so inexperienced or who were undesirable to other councillors (due to policy or personal reasons) that it was never going to work.

I would also add that a lot of the rage is pretty illogical. FG/FF control 15 of the 32 seats on WCC. SF/GP only have 7. For sure, SF got a huge amount of votes, but they only ran 7 candidates and only 6 of them got elected. FG/FF may not have gotten a huge vote, but they ran a lot of candidates and 15 of them managed to get elected (some by the bones of their arse, but whether you top the poll or squeak in is all the same; a seat on the council is a seat on the council, regardless of how it is won). Enough people voted for FG/FF, hence why they have a near majority of the seats.

Also, are people who voted for the likes of Jennifer Whitmore (who seems like a wonderful, likeable, intelligent, pragmatic and realistic person) REALLY happy that she has apparently gotten into bed with Sinn Féin/Green Party? I know the alternative was get into bed with Fine Gael/Fianna Fáil... Jesus, that's like asking: "Who would you prefer shagged your girlfriend? Your brother or your best friend?".

Add to that, this was only the first meeting. There's a long, long way to go yet. A lot of people and a certain website are raging, but there's a long way to go yet. 5 years to be exact. Let's judge all these councillors over the next 5 years, see what they do... and if they did good work, vote for them. If they were fúcking useless, turf them out via the ballot box. It's that simple.

Zoo4m8

What just happened here?? A logical, common sense ,non spittle flecked, black and white political/local affairs post.. Refreshing is not the word..:D