Green chairwoman Bamford feeling positive despite early elimination

Green chairwoman Bamford feeling positive despite early elimination

3 March 2017

POLITICAL newcomer Ricky Bamford, of the Green Party, was upbeat despite her elimination from the Strangford Assembly election.

Happy with 918 votes, the Comber woman said she regarded the election as a test run for council politics and the opportunity to "get her face out there."

Named Green Party chairwoman just two weeks before the election was announced, she said she was happy to maintain her party's 2016 vote despite the short time to prepare.

Describing Strangford as "her home", she said was convinced she could make a difference to the area by offering an alternative to traditional party politics.

"I have grandchildren now and I want a different Northern Ireland for them," she said.

"We have become so distracted by the past that we have ignored the future.

"I am not negating the pain people felt, but we need to deal with that and create something new and have the opportunity to celebrate our diversity.

"Healthcare, integrated education and housing issues - those are the things that are important to us."

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