First Independent candidate for Limerick’s directly elected mayor confirmed

THE FIRST Independent candidate running for Limerick’s directly elected mayor has been confirmed.

John Moran has confirmed that, within 24 hours after launching his website www.johnmoran.ie and his first call for nominations, he received “well over” the required sixty people who have come forward to nominate him to contest the Limerick mayor election as an independent.

“I will be on the ballot as the first independent candidate,” said Mr Moran in a statement.

Mr Moran, who was formerly Secretary General of the Department of Finance, said that “it is clear that the people of Limerick have spoken, they agree with me that a break from the past is needed.”

“With this level of support coming so quickly to remove this barrier to being a candidate, I can now say with confidence my name will be on the ballot as the leading independent candidate nominated by the voters of Limerick,” he added.

While party candidates can be nominated by their party’s head office, in Dublin, independent candidates must gather the signatures of at least 60 Limerick voters to be allowed to run. 

Moran said: “It did not take a national party HQ pushing a candidate or their policies. It required only civic-minded citizens who share my vision for how Limerick should be governed differently in a truly inclusive way putting Limerick first. The movement for a new future for Limerick began in earnest this week.”

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“I now want to get to work to ensure in the weeks ahead everyone across our county is heard, has the space to debate their future vision of Limerick and is registered to vote,” he added.

Through his website encouraging voter registration and pitching his case for his nomination (www.johnmoran.ie), individuals can read more on his profile, register to his campaign and indicate further interest in nominating him as an independent candidate. 

“Even though we have hit the initial required target, I encourage people to continue to add their names to the nominating list.  The more people who come on board, the stronger the message to the existing parties that Limerick wants a break from the past to ensure strong and independent leadership for Limerick,” Moran added.