Council chairwoman will not seek re-election

Council chairwoman will not seek re-election

By David Telford

DOWN Council chairwoman Maria McCarthy is the latest big name politician to decide against running in this year's local government elections.

@Font 1:Elected in 2011 and widely regarded as one of the SDLP's rising stars, Miss McCarthy has decided she won't be contesting the May election, a decision expected to be formally announced at an SDLP selection meeting early next week.

Significantly, councillor McCarthy's place to contest the May election will be taken by the man she pipped at a party selection meeting in 2011 to fight the last local government poll, Terry Andrews. He subsequently quit the SDLP and stood as an Independent candidate securing a seat.

But on Monday night, councillor Andrews confirmed he has rejoined the SDLP with immediate effect and will be the party's only candidate standing in the newly enlarged Rowallane area.

Councillor McCarthy's decision not to contest the May election takes the number of SDLP councillors who have decided to bow out of front line politics to six.

Councillor Eamonn O'Neill stood down at the end of last year, while councillors Carmel O'Boyle, John Doris, Anne McAleenan and Patsy Toman have all decided not to seek re-election. The DUP's William Dick confirmed three weeks ago that he also won't be seeking re-election.

South Down MP Margaret Ritchie and councillor Colin McGrath, the SDLP's group leader on Down Council, said they are delighted councillors Andrew has rejoined the party.

Miss Ritchie described Mr. Andrews as a "great community person" who works hard on the ground for people across the entire Rowallane area.

Councillor McGrath added: "Terry is an excellent representative for the Crossgar and wider Rowallane area, fully espousing the SDLP core principle of working hard in our communities, delivering real results for local people."