Naas Town Council 2009

[aodh_rua]

Seeing as Fine Gael held their convention last night, I was wondering if anyone had thoughts on the shape of Naas Town Council after next year's election. The nine current members divide up as follows: 3 FF, 1 FG, 1 Lab, 1 Green, 1 PD and 2 Independents, which is in the spirit of the 1-1-1-1-1 divide in the county council area. Presumably the sitting county councillors (O'Callaghan, Power and Glennon) are safe, and Darren Scully's high profile and general election performance should see him through. Labour should also hold a seat. Interestingly no outgoing mayor has held their seat since the early 70s, so there might be something to watch there.

Fine Gael should make a gain if they can capitalise on Darren's workrate, but at who's expense? The newly selected candidates are Darren, Alan O'Kelly (who is a well-established local FG activist) and Emer McDaid who is a primary school teacher in the town. Darren is in his 30s, while Alan and Emer are in their late 20s, so it should be the youngest ticket on offer too.

[rockofcashel]

How do you rate James Lawless's chances for FF ?

[aodh_rua]

I presume as a Sallins-man, James might have his eye on the CoCo nomination. He'll make a strong candidate out there (although unfortunately with the wrong party )

[the agent]

FG should increase their seats on Naas town council and having a young school teacher as a candidate will do them no harm. There will be losers on the council as there is at every election, and my money is on JJ Power been one of them. I heard Anthony Creevy of FF is not running so there is a vacancy and I cant see FF holding that seat.

I have always said that there will be only 1 FF seat in CoCo election and that will be willie Callaghan(Naas Base).
James Lawless I believe is Sallins based and with Paddy MacNamara of Labour based there I cant see how Sallins will elect 2 Cllrs. FF will be getting a major kicking at next years locals so I really cant see how they will be gaining seats.

Does any one know will Billy Hillis(FG) be running in Naas LEA next year, and will FG run 2 or 3 candidates (might run myself)

[aodh_rua]

FG should increase their seats on Naas town council and having a young school teacher as a candidate will do them no harm. There will be losers on the council as there is at every election, and my money is on JJ Power been one of them. I heard Anthony Creevy of FF is not running so there is a vacancy and I cant see FF holding that seat.

I have always said that there will be only 1 FF seat in CoCo election and that will be willie Callaghan(Naas Base).
James Lawless I believe is Sallins based and with Paddy MacNamara of Labour based there I cant see how Sallins will elect 2 Cllrs. FF will be getting a major kicking at next years locals so I really cant see how they will be gaining seats.

Does any one know will Billy Hillis(FG) be running in Naas LEA next year, and will FG run 2 or 3 candidates (might run myself)

Billy will move with his area to the new 4-seater Athy area. His seat should follow him down, and Darren will be able to step up to hold the FG seat on KCC.

[croppyboy]

Interesting. Credit to FG for selecting a young ticket although I trust it wasn't at the expense of any party stalwarts. All in favour of young candidates but can be important to get the balance right.

Re FF, A.Creevy is indeed stepping down so that creates at least one vacancy on the TC. Obviously FF will be looking to hold though I tend to think TC elections are more candidate than party based.

It's an interesting stat on the mayor's not being reelected, although Seamie Moore is an experienced and popular politician, think he may have topped the poll last time, so may buck that trend.

Re Mr. Lawless, if the estate agents are to be believed (ref "Oldbridge Station"!) he lives in Naas. While he has been very active on Sallins issues, technically he lives in Osberstown which is betwixt the two and part of the 'Naas Rural' ED. He is also ViceChair and PRO of Naas FF Comhairle Ceantair.

[rockofcashel]

Interesting. Credit to FG for selecting a young ticket although I trust it wasn't at the expense of any party stalwarts. All in favour of young candidates but can be important to get the balance right.

Re FF, A.Creevy is indeed stepping down so that creates at least one vacancy on the TC. Obviously FF will be looking to hold though I tend to think TC elections are more candidate than party based.

It's an interesting stat on the mayor's not being reelected, although Seamie Moore is an experienced and popular politician, think he may have topped the poll last time, so may buck that trend.

Re Mr. Lawless, if the estate agents are to be believed (ref "Oldbridge Station"!) he lives in Naas. While he has been very active on Sallins issues, technically he lives in Osberstown which is betwixt the two and part of the 'Naas Rural' ED. He is also ViceChair and PRO of Naas FF Comhairle Ceantair.

Isn't Seamie Moore the fella that won a really big lotto a few months back.. he's hardly running again if he did.. I'd imagine he's taking time to spend it

[sandar]

Not that I know of Roc the really big Lotto was supposed to have been won by a newbridge councillor called Seamie Finn.
Surpirsed to hear Creevey is stepping down, I thought he was ultra ambitious, is it the case that the knows there will never be a dail nomination?
Naas is a very parochial place, and local connections are usually crucial, scully is well in, but are either of the other two FG candidates from long established Naas families in the way that Power and Callaghan(not O'Callaghan by the way) are?

[CelloP]

Can we vote to abolish the town council?

[croppyboy]

Naas is a very parochial place, and local connections are usually crucial, scully is well in, but are either of the other two FG candidates from long established Naas families in the way that Power and Callaghan(not O'Callaghan by the way) are?

I kind of thought that too, credit to the young FGers for having a go and they may be hard workers within the party but I've never heard of Alan or Emer before and I'd keep a closer eye on the scene than most.

btw "Callaghan" is higher up the ballot paper than "O'Callaghan"