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

Mr. G

With local elections in May, what questions will you be asking canvassers when they come calling to your door?

With household charges, water metering, flood defence and planning dominating the news over the past year, the forthcoming local elections are set to be a lively affair.

So if a candidate came knocking at your door tomorrow what would you ask them? What issues affect you and yours on a daily basis? What would you like to see changed or introduced? How satisfied are you with the current crowd and what would you like to see changed tomorrow? Do local politics even matter and how should a candidate justify themselves to the electorate?

This thread is intended to raise issues that are important to you, so hopefully local candidates can take notice. Also this thread is to have no canvassing by candidates or party representatives, and any such actions will not be allowed.

We at Boards.ie will be getting in touch with as many candidates as we can, and the aim will be for them to come onto Boards to explain their policies, and to answer the questions that you the posters have posed in this threads. When that time comes we aim to use seperate threads for the candidates so that those threads can be answer and policy specific.

Finally & importantly, we would like this thread to focus on the issues that matter to you & be able to provide the candidates with a clear list of local issues as seen by local posters. If you wish to debate the issues raised - we will create a separate thread.

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crazyguy01

periodictable wrote: »

You believe these guys can turn on a computer?;)

I hope so......don't we pay for the computers/phones for them?

Clareman

It would be great to have an open and frank discussion with a local representative on here, I was involved in modding a questions thread in the past and I can tell you it's a f**king nightmare, unfortunately some posters can be children and they normally descend into a slagging match very quickly.

periodictable

crazyguy01 wrote: »

Have to agree, a long list for the Co. Council.
Just looking back through this thread now and the original post: Mods, were any candidates approached to interact with this thread....I know that would have taken a lot so maybe not feasible but just wondering what the reaction was if any approaches were made?

You believe these guys can turn on a computer?;)

crazyguy01

Have to agree, a long list for the Co. Council.
Just looking back through this thread now and the original post: Mods, were any candidates approached to interact with this thread....I know that would have taken a lot so maybe not feasible but just wondering what the reaction was if any approaches were made?

Clareman

I'm back from voting, have to say it was great to vote in a council premises rather than a school, a pet peeve of mine was always that 1 school in a location closed when there was loads of council space available.

There was an awful lot of people on the ballot paper, half of whom I never heard of or saw a poster for.

Lady Chatterton

I've removed the Facebook screen grabs - Please don't post offensive material in this forum.

angelfire9

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

Did it include the text he posted on FB?

No, but i saw the comments on FB yesterday

Johnboy1951

angelfire9 wrote: »

I posted a link to this story last night

Did it include the text he posted on FB?

angelfire9

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

I wonder what it was he posted ......

I posted a link to this story last night

Johnboy1951

I wonder what it was he posted ......

periodictable

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

A 'third hand' verbal report to me was that 'some' SF candidate had resigned because of some Facebook remark/post he made some years ago that is termed 'racist' ....... something about the traveller troubles that flared up in England some time ago.

That is hearsay .......

reported by the Journal and picked up by Yahoo
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/sinn-f-candidate-resigns-over-anti-traveller-comments-080738003.html#9pt52Kl

Johnboy1951

A "traditional" party may not look attractive, because they don't promise us nice things, but it has to be said that they will have a much clearer idea about political reality and what is feasible and achievable.

I understand what you are saying .... but it sticks in my craw that it is 'political' reality.

For the most part that political reality seems to ignore the social realities of a large number of people.

golfball37

dr.fuzzenstein wrote: »

Well, the issues I would be raising with a green candidate is that they want petrol at €5 a liter, coal at €100 a bag, oil at €2 a litre, cars with 200% tax on them, 5000% levy on industry, electricity at €10 per kw/h and so on and so forth.
Greens just want to tax anything they see as not environmentally friendly into oblivion, without any regards to people, industry, the economy or even the future survival of the state.
Just as dangerous as the AAA, who also may have laudable goals, but one wonders if they have even the faintest idea how to achieve them.
A "traditional" party may not look attractive, because they don't promise us nice things, but it has to be said that they will have a much clearer idea about political reality and what is feasible and achievable.
My issues would be rising taxation, dwindling income, lack of credit for businesses, the development of Shannon airport and industrial estate, infrastructure, public transport and just what the grand plan is for the future survival of the region, because with everything that we have, Clare has a lot going for it.
I don't see many candidates out where I am and I'm keeping an open mind, but beware of parties that promise too much.

Local election, local issues. Traditional parties built housing estates in flood plains near me, for all their so called "political reality" good ol greed won the day. I'd rather pay a bit extra for a bail of briquettes than support the cartel of patronage that have milked this country since its inception.

Johnboy1951

A 'third hand' verbal report to me was that 'some' SF candidate had resigned because of some Facebook remark/post he made some years ago that is termed 'racist' ....... something about the traveller troubles that flared up in England some time ago.

That is hearsay .......

golfball37

I hear the SF candidate O'Reilly has pulled out?

Any truth to this

dr.fuzzenstein

golfball37 wrote: »

Of all the candidates I have met the only one who made any sense and impressed me at all was the Green guy- Torben Uunk.

A big step up on Meaney imo so I will give him a chance on Friday.

Well, the issues I would be raising with a green candidate is that they want petrol at €5 a liter, coal at €100 a bag, oil at €2 a litre, cars with 200% tax on them, 5000% levy on industry, electricity at €10 per kw/h and so on and so forth.
Greens just want to tax anything they see as not environmentally friendly into oblivion, without any regards to people, industry, the economy or even the future survival of the state.
Just as dangerous as the AAA, who also may have laudable goals, but one wonders if they have even the faintest idea how to achieve them.
A "traditional" party may not look attractive, because they don't promise us nice things, but it has to be said that they will have a much clearer idea about political reality and what is feasible and achievable.
My issues would be rising taxation, dwindling income, lack of credit for businesses, the development of Shannon airport and industrial estate, infrastructure, public transport and just what the grand plan is for the future survival of the region, because with everything that we have, Clare has a lot going for it.
I don't see many candidates out where I am and I'm keeping an open mind, but beware of parties that promise too much.

golfball37

Of all the candidates I have met the only one who made any sense and impressed me at all was the Green guy- Torben Uunk.

A big step up on Meaney imo so I will give him a chance on Friday.

periodictable

angelfire9 wrote: »

Just on the Johnny Flynn thing it's easy be frugal when you have a lovely pension (60k+) from Limerick co co and your wife earns probably 100k+ (she's a pharmacist with a successful business)

It always fascinates me how people seem to have detailed and intimate knowledge of the private financial affairs of others.
Again, I have no affiliation to Flynn, but I will say this...the guy has a college degree-2 actually-in pretty demanding areas of study, and his wife, being a pharmacist,obviously ain't short in the brains department either. They have put in the slog in college, and that investment is hopefully paying off.
Pennies don't fall from heaven, they have to be earned.
When some councillors claim payment of €300 for a printer- and when I run my business on a Canon printer from Tesco for €49.99- then I begin to feel stiffed by the guy pissing on my leg and claiming it's raining.

angelfire9

Just on the Johnny Flynn thing it's easy be frugal when you have a lovely pension (60k+) from Limerick co co and your wife earns probably 100k+ (she's a pharmacist with a successful business)

periodictable

I want to know what is going to happen with Traveller accommodation.
I believe no more money ought to be spent on it, as it has largely been destroyed.
I want something done about illegal dumping, illegal parking, including people not paying for a ticket, a plan to make use of the Fergus riverbanks as a walkway where possible.
I'd like to see the county manager and town manager having their pay reduced to under €80k, and also an explanation of what qualifies them for the job.
Also, if Johnny Flynn can have suck low expenses, what's the story with the others? I mean, don't piss on my leg and tell me it's raining.
Another issue is the calibre of councillor...so many relatives of past councillors, as they have reminded us proudly as they now seek reelection, steeped in a mindset of how thing are always done, and that no thinking outside the box is necessary.
PS I have NO affiliation with Councillor Flynn or FG, but if he can be frugal, why not the rest? After all, it's our goddamned money they are spending.

Mr. G

Mod: I have deleted a number of posts in order to keep this thread on topic. Please refer to Mrs D's post:

MrsD007 wrote: »

This thread was set up so people could list the issues they would like to raise with local election candidates.

If you want to discuss your experiences dealing with local representatives this should happen on a new thread.

Clareman

Oh, and by the way, I haven't decided who to vote for yet, I just know that any councillor who was in place the time of the Information Age debacle won't be getting my vote as they ignored my letters suggestion setting up wireless transmitters on street lights rather than running fibre optic cable throughout the town.

Clareman

Claregirl wrote: »

So what can they actually do? How do they actually look after you?

Is it not the county manager and senior execs etc (i.e. employees) that have the actual power to get things done? Are councillors not just the middlemen taking credit for people getting what they are entitled to get?

Actually I forgot they did have some involvement for granting planning permission to build on flood planes back in the day didn't they?

I would see them as escalation points rather than anything else. As for planning permission, well, there are so many ridiculous decisions in that area I think if they were to be looked into fully that all councils in the country would be thrown out.

For me, and who I'll vote for, will depend on whether the person is approachable, if I've had dealings with them in the past, if they have a track record of getting stuff done or anything like this. Unfortunately, politics the world over is all about who you know, not what you know, as great as it would be to have a full new raft of councillors I don't think this would do much good, any new person will need to have sensible, achievable goals, in work speak they will need to be SMART (Specific, Manageable, Assignable, Realistic and Time-Bound)

periodictable

Claregirl wrote: »

Actually I forgot they did have some involvement for granting planning permission to build on flood planes back in the day didn't they?

Each time I pass on the Shehanagh roundabout I wonder who the bright sparks were that were happy to zone JJ's land for building.
I suppose they still have their snouts in the public trough.

Lady Chatterton

This thread was set up so people could list the issues they would like to raise with local election candidates.

If you want to discuss your experiences dealing with local representatives this should happen on a new thread.

Carry

Clareman wrote: »

So instead of ringing 1 of the many phone lines, emailing different options, calling offices, ringing during business hours, you decide to interupt someone during their "down time" and are surprised/taken aback when they don't want to give a full substantive answer to a question that you yourself admit was complicated. If someone from my workplace was to come into the pub when I was there and ask me a work related question I've no doubt but I'd tell them to call someone else or to ring me during the day, they are our Representatives not an encyclopaedia of knowledge of grants, in fact I don't think I'd ever like to rely on someone for financial advice while they were consuming alcohol.

In my experience, if I wanted to get in contact with a councillor, just ring their office or mobile and they normally get back to you, if you are lucky to meet them in a pub simply ask them for a good time to ring them during the week, common decency really.

Clareman, I didn't want to write the whole story in all it's epic details. It was an exemplary story about councillors and/or candidates with their promises and how they keep them.

And please read my post again carefully.

I didn't ambush him, he was there in full regalia to talk to his "subjects" (before anyone complains, this is meant as jokey). He doesn't go out to relax, but to "bond with the constituents".
He invited me to ask him, didn't know a thing, asked me to come to his office, which I did, he pretended to be busy, sqirmed a bit and told me to call the council.

Before all that and before I asked in the neighbourhood if there is anyone who might know a way to get in contact with the right person, I phoned around (and e-mailed) a lot (and yes, during business hours): there was not one who could help me. I never got a reply on my e-mails, when I finally found out the right number there was either no reply or I was told to call another time because he/she is busy or to make an appointment (which I tried to do but got the answer to call again) and when I finally went to Ennis to talk to someone (and actually ambush them) I got the responsible person who was rushing away, telling me to make an appointment. Which I tried but never succeeded in.

I was desperate and frustrated, so I asked in the neighbourhood until someone told me to ask the local councillor, who was incidentally delighted at first when I approached him with a question but then ... see above.

Was that detailed enough?
If not I give up.

Claregirl

Clareman wrote: »

To be fair to the candidates who say they'll look after you when you need them, at least they are being honest. I've seen some candidates saying that they are going to sort out water rates or other stuff, pie in the sky, they can't do anything except local really. 1 candidate had in their manifesto that they were going to get an app created to allow people register their problems, what a waste of money, another was going to setup cheap creches, again, pie in the sky.

So what can they actually do? How do they actually look after you?

Is it not the county manager and senior execs etc (i.e. employees) that have the actual power to get things done? Are councillors not just the middlemen taking credit for people getting what they are entitled to get?

Actually I forgot they did have some involvement for granting planning permission to build on flood planes back in the day didn't they?

Clareman

Carry wrote: »

Not in my experience, about the looking after or at least give advice.

I once was asking around in the neighbourhood to get advice for a grant for a new thatched roof. (It's complicated because at that time you've got a grant from the national heritage council and one from the local council)

People told me to ask the local councillor, whom I got hold of in the local pub eventually (where else :rolleyes:)

He said that he is the right man to ask (supping his pint and beaming), what's the problem.

I asked him, what is the best way to apply for the grant and where? Do you know someone who is responsible and can you actually help me to get in contact?

A simple question in the realms of a councillor, I thought.

His smile disappeared, instead you could see his three ff-braincells frantically moving around - because he actually didn't know.

Eventually he told me to call the local council to get advice.

That was something I never had thought of myself, while asking a local councillor, now wasn't I ...:rolleyes:

What was that again? We'll fix it, call me if you need help ....

These people wouldn't know their backside from their elbow, but promise you everything.

Useless, absolutely useless.

I eventually found out all on my own whom to contact, by the way. But the responsible officer for the grant was as useless as anything, even too lazy to do a survey for the grant. I payed for preserving Irish heritage all on my own eventually. But that's another story.

Did I mention useless?

So instead of ringing 1 of the many phone lines, emailing different options, calling offices, ringing during business hours, you decide to interupt someone during their "down time" and are surprised/taken aback when they don't want to give a full substantive answer to a question that you yourself admit was complicated. If someone from my workplace was to come into the pub when I was there and ask me a work related question I've no doubt but I'd tell them to call someone else or to ring me during the day, they are our Representatives not an encyclopaedia of knowledge of grants, in fact I don't think I'd ever like to rely on someone for financial advice while they were consuming alcohol.

In my experience, if I wanted to get in contact with a councillor, just ring their office or mobile and they normally get back to you, if you are lucky to meet them in a pub simply ask them for a good time to ring them during the week, common decency really.

Mr. G

pilate 1 wrote: »

point taken mr g. however being civil should also include posts directed to particular candidates and their parties.bringing up their occupations,drinking habits and politicial affilliations in such negative tones is in itself going way off topic.ie what issues will you raise.
the thread is not about having a go at elected reps. or is it

This thread is not for having a go at an elected representative, rather more for bringing up issues in your local area and what you would like done about it. Please read the OP. Carry did not name the representative whom was in the pub.

Please don't question a Mod's decision on-thread as it de-rails it, instead please PM a Mod.

pilate 1

point taken mr g. however being civil should also include posts directed to particular candidates and their parties.bringing up their occupations,drinking habits and politicial affilliations in such negative tones is in itself going way off topic.ie what issues will you raise.
the thread is not about having a go at elected reps. or is it