McGuigan and Peacock selected by SF

Sinn Féin have announced their two candidates standing in the Ballymoney District electoral area in the local Government elections next May.

These elections to the new super council mean that seven councillors will be elected from the area covering Raharkin, Dunloy, Cloughmills, Knockaholet and Ballymoney Town to sit on the new Causeway Coast and Glens Council.

At a packed convention held in Dunloy sitting Councillor Philip McGuigan was selected along with his party colleague from Rasharkin Leanne Peacock.

Cllr McGuigan said: “It is always an honour to be given the opportunity to not only represent Sinn Féin but also the citizens of this area and I am looking forward to the challenge of doing that in the new Council set up.”

Miss Peacock concurred, saying: “Sinn Féin have a strong record in Ballymoney Council of defending the rights and entitlements of all its citizens and this will be an important election campaign to ensure that that work continues in the Causeway Coast and Glens Council.

“With the election only six months away I am looking forward to getting out round the doors and putting our message across and listening to the views of our electorate.”

Current SF councillor Cathal McLaughlin, who nominated both candidates at the selection convention, said that the party locally had picked a good team to meet the challenges ahead.

Cllr. Mc Laughlin said: “All elections are important but that is particularly true in this case with next May’s elections to the new super council. With 40 councillors being elected from Ballymoney, Moyle, Coleraine and Limavady areas to the new Causeway Coast and Glens Council it will be vital that Sinn Féin have a strong team of candidates and hopefully councillors.”

Councillor Mc Laughlin, who did not wish to stand in these elections, continued: “I enjoy my role on Ballymoney Council and will continue to represent the citizens of the area within Council until 2015 when the new council will take over. Given that I work full time I felt I would be unable to give the time commitments required in the new bigger council but I will certainly be out campaigning for both Philip and Leanne to ensure that the growth of Sinn Féin in this area continues.”