Waterside: UUP vote up 60% thanks to ‘people’s councillor’

Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) veteran Mary Hamilton says she believes she’s the ‘people’s councillor’ after the UUP put on 60 per cent in the Waterside in the inaugural election to the new Derry and Strabane Council.

Mrs Hamilton received 1,046 first preferences, not far off a quota.

She said: “I’d like to thank my loyal workers that went out and walked the streets and were very successful and my family too.

“We fought a good campaign. We knocked on all the doors and we got a great reception and, I think, that’s what you need to do for people, if they are going to give you a vote, you should go and talk to them.

“And I talk to the people in the Waterside and I do what I’ve always done and look after them because, I feel, that I’m the people’s councillor.

Her party colleague, Julia Kee, running in the area for the first time polled 465 first preferences but ended up with over 700 after transfers and was very close to claiming a seventh seat.

Mrs Hamilton remarked: “I’m just disappointed that Julia, my colleague didn’t make it, we fought a good battle, and I’m happy to say the Ulster Unionist vote is up over 60 per cent in the Waterside.”