SDLP councillors to run in election

SDLP councillors to run in election

16 January 2019

THE SDLP has selected its three sitting councillors in the Downpatrick area to contest the forthcoming local government election.

The selection of Dermot Curran, Gareth Sharvin and John Trainor was confirmed at a recent party meeting.

Cllr Trainor the only one of the trio who has yet to contest an election, having been co-opted to Newry, Mourne and Down Council to replace Colin McGrath after he was elected to the Assembly.

Cllr Curran has the honour of being Northern Ireland’s longest serving district councillor. He was elected to the former Down Council following the reorganisation of local government in 1973.

“I have contested many elections in my years of public office,” he said following his selection to put him before the electorate again.

“I have witnessed the political landscape of Northern Ireland change so often and the changes we are living through at present are radical and also deeply worrying for many people.”

Cllr Curran said whether this was because of Brexit, the changing state of welfare or the lack of an Assembly.

He said the one thing that was clear was that the role of local government will take on a fresh vibrancy.  

He added: “We need to show the public that they can trust us and I believe my SDLP colleagues and I have shown that most admirably over the years and will continue to do so.”

Cllr Sharvin said that since he was co-opted to the former Down Council in 2012 to replace the late Peter Craig, it was a mantle he had taken up with great pride.

“I am incredibly grateful to the public for returning me to serve council in the 2015 election and I look forward to being returned again in May,” he said.

“Having achieved much in my time on council, I am excited about the many new opportunities and challenges the new year will present us with and I will face these head on.  I am proud to stand alongside my colleagues Dermot and John as we continue our work for the people of our constituency.”

Cllr Trainor, whose mother, Anne, was an SDLP councillor on the former Down Council, said he was very grateful to have been co-opted to take Mr McGrath’s seat.

“In the time I have been on the local council I have done all that I can to best represent the people of Downpatrick and to serve their needs,” he said.

“I want to continue that work and see it through to the close. Whether that it representing the voice of our young people or defending our health service, I hope people will met me represent them.”

Mr McGrath, who attended the recent selection meeting in Downpatrick, said that having been a member of the local authority for a number of years, he always admired Cllr Curran for his work. 

He added: “Dermot has been a mentor for so many of us within the party.  Having known Gareth and John for years as well, I am assured that the people of Downpatrick will be well served once more by this trio.”