UUP selects council candidates in Londonderry

THE Foyle Constituency Association of the Ulster Unionist Party held its 2011 Annual General Meeting on Monday night.

The guest speaker was the UUP Assembly candidate for West Tyrone, Councillor Ross Hussey from Omagh.

In addition to the election of local party officers for 2011-2012, the meeting saw the introduction of the UUP candidates in the forthcoming local government elections to Derry City Council, Councillor Mary Hamilton and newcomer, local UUP member Ronnie McKeegan.

"At present, we plan to run two candidates for Derry City Council and in the two candidates we have a blend of proven experience and freshness," comments local party Chairman, Terry Wright.

"Experienced local councillor Mary Hamilton will contest her existing seat and Ronnie McKeegan will campaign for a seat in the rural area and I am confident that the UUP can increase its representation on the local Council, this time around.

"Ronnie who was educated at Newbuildings Primary School and Faughan Valley High School has a history of involvement in the cultural and sporting life of the community. For a number of years he was a Youth Club Leader in a Church centre and is a life-long supporter of the Ulster Unionist Party.

"He has a particular interest in the well-being of the community especially young people and in choosing Ronnie McKeegan as a candidate the UUP is offering the electorate the opportunity to vote for a new, energetic and committed personality who is people and issue-focused.

"This is the least that can be said of experienced and respected Councillor Mary Hamilton.

"Local party members are delighted that Mary has once again accepted the nomination of the party for the Council elections

"During her years on Derry City Council Mary Hamilton has been involved in planning, the provision of regional services, education and environmental health. She has held the position of Deputy Mayor is a member of NILGA and was recently appointed President of the Ulster Unionist Councillors' Association.

"Above all Councillor Hamilton is a family-orientated and people person. This is clearly evident in her busy and practical approach to politics and was displayed to all in the principled position she has taken on the impact of the Airport expansion, the name change issue, rating and job losses within Derry City Council.

"Her commitment to the victims of the Claudy bombing and her forceful promotion of their struggle for justice has won her admiration and respect far beyond the Derry City Council area.

She already meets people who require her help on a regular basis and has now committed to running a surgery in the Newsbuilding area with Ronnie McKeegan the other UUP candidate in the local government elections. Arrangements are well advanced and details will be forthcoming soon.

Members of the electorate who bring their problems to Councillor Hamilton will find that her interest and effort in wanting to help bring a solution is genuine, tireless and based on a wealth of practical experience."

Alderman Mary Hamilton

"FOLLOWING a period when many voters have become disillusioned with politics I, like many, have asked myself if politics can really make a difference to the daily lives of people in the community,

In spite of the negative views that sometimes prevail, particularly in the media, I believe that the answer is yes and it is this belief that has led to my once again accepting the nomination of the Foyle Ulster Unionist Party as a candidate in the local government elections.

As the sole Ulster Unionist member on Derry City Council it is sometimes difficult to bring influence to bear on major decisions but with the support of my local party colleagues I believe that we have been able to punch above our weight on issues important to the community and in particular the Unionist community within the Council area.

We have shown this to be so when presenting our case surrounding the debate on the name change for the city and the treatment of the victims of the Claudy bombing. This is in addition to the many individual enquiries and requests that I deal with on a daily basis and the contribution that I endeavour to make on the various committees, Boards of Governors and public bodies which I am required to attend.

The outcome of the report on the Claudy bombing is far from satisfactory and stands in marked contrast to the outcome of other more costly enquiries which has brought closure for the families involved. This is not the experience of those who were and continue to be victims of the Claudy bombing and the result is to allow a hierarchy of victims within the community. Of course there are those who govern us who, in spite of the pivotal role they played in the organisation which bore responsibility for the atrocity, seem unable to provide information which whilst not ending the suffering of the families would at least confirm their suspicions. It is such injustice and inequality which motivates me in seeking re-election as a UUP Councillor.

The next Council will have the responsibility of ensuring the success of the successful bid for the UK City of Culture and if elected I intend to ensure that the culture of the city is presented and developed fairly and in an inclusive way.

Any new Council will have the stewardship of public money. I am not sure that the Council has always succeeded in obtaining value for money. The case for the expenditure on the airport has still to be made. Just last week I found it very difficult to support the salary increase for the Chief Executive.

With job losses in the pipeline and salary freezes in place it is not the best time to be awarding wage rises and any new Council is going to have to display greater sensitivity and reflection in ensuring that the money supplied from the public purse is used to the maximum in obtaining value and quality of service for those who pay.

It is going to be a challenging period. I am satisfied that with the experience I have acquired and on my record as a Councillor I can deliver for the electorate. I know that I will be able to count on the support of my party colleagues and it is my hope that the other UUP candidate in the election, Ronnie McKeegan, will be joining me as a Councillor.

I know that we will make a good team and can work effectively for the whole community."

UUP candidate Ronnie McKeegan

"I HAVE always had an interest in politics and have been a life-long supporter of the Ulster Unionist party. Being a member of the local Management Committee in which capacity I have been able to attend the Executive of the party has enabled me to develop my interest and knowledge and I feel that, if successful , I can become an effective voice for my local community.

"Over recent years the UUP has not fared well in elections in the constituency yet the record of many of those who have been elected to represent the unionist community shows that they have been so distracted by their other positions that on many issues the electorate has been left under-represented and almost dis-enfranchised.

"One of the effects of this is that many of the electorate have become demoralised and no longer bother to vote at all. This is a situation which, with my party colleague Councillor Mary Hamilton who has worked with consistency for the peoples, I intend to address.

There are many issues I am aware of and have been made aware of by individuals within the community that are not receiving the attention that deserve.

"Sectarianism still blights our local community and often manifests itself as inequality and hostility experienced by young people. The local economy and the effects of the global recession are making life tougher for many. Under-achievement of young protestant boys is an important issue which, whilst it is recognised within plans for re-generation, needs to be addressed and solved as a matter of urgency. Within my own area of Newbuildings run-down buildings are an eye-sore and a disincentive to inward investment in the area.

More recently as we all experienced the effects of the extreme weather conditions, the inadequacy of local measures and preparation was all too apparent and indicative of short-term planning and expediency – not the hallmark of good local government.

"These are the issues which matter in a local government election. They are the issues which affect the quality of life in the community on a daily basis and they are the issues which, if elected, I would intend to bring before Council.

In too many past elections we have heard the tired old rhetoric of splitting the vote and endangering Unionist representation. I hope that this will not be dragged out again for under proportional representation when properly managed it is not a major concern.

"I have my convictions and support the policies of my party but if elected I am prepared to promote my communal interests but within the context of working co-operatively to make the city and the council area a fairer, more prosperous, more tolerant and shared community. Many difficulties lie in the way but to balance this we have the development of Project Kelvin and the UK City of Culture to look forward to.

I want to ensure that there is an additional and effective unionist representative in the centre to advance the interests of the unionist community and to ensure that through meaningful unionist participation unionism is afforded its rightful esteem and consideration."

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