DUP’s Frank Campbell iscrowned king of the Causeway

Speaking to the Times at the count in Coleraine Leisure Centre, Mr Campbell said: “I’m happy that the electorate has put me in this position to work on their behalf and I look forward to representing the whole area.”

In Causeway there were 7,409 valid votes but no one met the quota of 927 in first preference votes.

Also successful in Causeway DEA were sitting Coleraine councillors, Mark Fielding, the current Deputy Mayor of Coleraine, and the Alliance Party’s Barney Fitzpatrick.

Mr Fielding, whose wife Phyllis was eliminated, said: “I’m delighted and looking forward to the challenges of the new council and am indebted to those people who backed me once again.”

Mr Fitzpatrick said his election showed that some people in the area were “prepared to step forward despite all that goes on”.

He added: “”I’m looking forward to working in the new Council. I hope that the d’hondt will disappear and I’ve never be an advocate because it put a lot of restrictions on the last Council.

“I’m apprehensive about the new planning powers as I feel it will bring about a certain amount of difficulties.”

UUP pair, former Coleraine mayor Norman Hillis and the first successfulwoman candidate, Sandra Hunter - a formerchairperson of Moyle District Council - were elected at the eighth stage of the Causeway DEA.

Councillor Hunter said she was looking forward to meeting all her new colleagues. “It has been a long haul but a fantastic result.”

The UUP’s Robert McPherson - who has sat on both Coleraine and Moyle councils in the past - failed to gain a seat, and in North Antrim, independent candidate, Charlie ‘Pappy’ O’Kane registered just 196 votes and was
eliminated.

There was a shock casualty, with the elimination of the DUP’s Bill Kennedy in Causeway DEA which meant that the SDLP’s Maura Hickey and Sharon McKillop (TUV) were successful, despite not reaching the quota.

McKillop said: “I’m very pleased that the electorate turned out and chose me to work for them.

“I’m looking forward to the added responsibility in the new Council. Because I’m in business and passionate about business I look forward to working in social, community and economic development.”

Former SDLP Deputy Mayor, Maura Hickey, said: “I’m excited about the new challenges of the new Council and I’m not underestimating those challenges and I hopes others won’t either.

“The new Council will give us all a great opportunity and I’m hoping it will be a very productive council.”