Candidate calls for public debate
LOCAL election candidate Patrick O'Doherty has challenged the other eight candidates in the Rathkeale electoral area to publicly debate the issues.
Mr O'Doherty, who lives in Ballingarry, formally announced he was contesting the election last Wednesday, just days before nominations closed. He has previously contested local elections as a Green candidate but is now standing on an independent, non-party ticket.
On the debate challenge, Mr O'Doherty said he had contacted print and broadcast media in the area and invited them to host debates in local venues and to nominate facilitators to finalise the debating rules.
"This is a much-needed opportunity for candidates to justify ourselves to the electorate," Mr O'Doherty said.
So far, however, there have been no indications that the challenge has been taken up, either by the media in organising debates or by the other candidates in answering the call.
Announcing his candidacy, Mr O'Doherty said: "I have been an activist and representative of individuals and groups for over 30 years and I understand the problems we face today.
"I am a fearless, articulate and vigorous advocate for the people, an effective campaigner and an independent-thinking representative and I am committed to giving the people of every part of the Rathkeale Electoral Area the proper representation which they deserve."
As an independent, non-party representative, Mr O'Doherty continued, he would "answer directly to the people" in every corner of the Rathkeale electoral area. "I shall be accountable to them directly and only to them," he said.
Mr O'Doherty last year went to the High Court to seek an injunction preventing the co-option of Cllr Michael Mulcair to replace John Griffin who had resigned his seat. The injunction did not materialise but Mr O'Doherty was given permission to bring a constitutional challenge on the practice of co-options before the High Court. The case is expected to be heard shortly.
Mr O'Doherty's belief is that the practice of co-opting a member of the same party to fill a casual vacancy left by a councillor because of death or resignation does not properly reflect the intentions of voters at polling booths. And he believes it goes against the constitutional requirement of the council being an elected body.
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