Hay selects his election agent

FOYLE MLA William Hay has appointed a former mayor of Londonderry as his election agent, as he bids to retain his seat at Stormont in the forthcoming election.

Mr Hay said party colleague Mildred Garfeld was a "passionate" campaigner and a well-known face across the city.

Mr Hay also warned that, with around 1,000 unionist voters at Claudy and Banagher being switched to the East Londonderry constituency, unionism in Foyle faces an even tougher battle to hold onto its one Assembly seat.

Announcing that Ms Garfeld was to act as his election agent, Mr Hay said: "Mildred is very passionate both about the party and elections, and she is highly respected and well-known because she is a former mayor of Londonderry.

"I am delighted that she is to act as my election agent."

Mr Hay said unionists must make sure that they use their votes, and that there is no split within unionism, to secure the seat again.

He said: "I have said before that unionists cannot afford to split the vote - there is only one seat for unionists in Foyle and we dare not risk losing it because of apathy or by having a split vote.

"I stand on my record, and I firmly believe that I am the best person to make sure that we retain this seat on behalf of unionism."

Mr Hay also said that unionists should not allow apathy to creep in, as it may at times have done in the past, and that unionists have a major role to play in the future development of Londonderry.

He added that unionists had shown how they can make a real difference during the 'name change' controversy, when they forced the council into a rethink of its plans to lobby for the city's offcial name to be change to 'Derry'.

Mr Hay continued: "Unionists need to get out and vote: there are exciting developments in the pipeline in terms of the economy, and unionists can and must play a role in that future, a future that will see signifcant developments that will beneft the economy of the city as a whole, and also the Waterside because of a number of proposed developments, including the Ebrington barracks project.

"I would also remind people to make sure they are on the electoral register, and we are also encouraging young people who are away at university to apply for proxy votes.

"If they need help flling in the application forms, they can contact the DUP offce on 028 71346271, though we will also be carrying out a door-to-door campaign as well."

Mr Hay said education is another item on the agenda, in terms of resolving the "11-plus issue" and also campaigning for more further and higher education provision, including getting the cap lifted that restricts the number of students who can attend the University of Ulster at Magee.

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