Local Elections 2014: What issues will you be raising with candidates on the door?

Morag

I am going to ask a range of questions including the one I have mentioned.
It's my franchise and endorsement they are looking for I get to ask them what I need to know before voting for them.

Grudaire

Morag, if you're in the castleknock ward you should chat with Roderic O'Gorman if you see him, he was quite involved with the Civil Partnership bill.

Although I'd agree with the other posters in saying that it isn't a local issue, but rather a national issue. I don't like seeing so many candidates mentioning issues like the water tax, which they won't have an ounce of power to change if elected..



(As mentioned in the other thread, I do canvas for Roderic.)

Hilly Bill

athtrasna wrote: »

I really want Mary Martin to come to my door or to meet her at the supermarket or somewhere. Independent only because she didn't get a FF nomination and she has the cheek to use a patronising tag line on her posters "Come on nmBan, vote for women". Well actually I'll vote for who the hell I want and gender has nothing to do with it!!

Smacks of sexism so wont be getting my vote either.

LoonyLovegood

Even my little sister (who doesn't have a vote and refuses to call herself a feminist because it's too 'politically loaded') said "well she's just set women's rights back fifty years with that one"

Zaph

First post updated with final list of declared candidates.

athtrasna

TJ Clare, Jack Chambers and the AAA had posters up in Waterville despite the road being private. When contacted to remove them only TJ Clare did. The arrogance and contempt of the others is making sure I'll actively campaign against them. Wanting to be a councillor yet littering our area, the hypocrisy is infuriating!

ThisRegard

Don't you know it's not really littering, as one AAA candidate said, and sure people won't mind, said another.

quickbeam

Where can I find a list of all candidates running in local, EU and bi-elections? I know this thread has it, but I'm interested in a few other constituencies too (eg my hometown). Seems ridiculous that there's no official website listing all this for the whole country. Maybe I just haven't found it yet.

athtrasna

quickbeam wrote: »

Where can I find a list of all candidates running in local, EU and bi-elections? I know this thread has it, but I'm interested in a few other constituencies too (eg my hometown). Seems ridiculous that there's no official website listing all this for the whole country. Maybe I just haven't found it yet.

There's likely to be lists like this on sites like electionIreland but not until nominations close later this week.

In other news, Jack Chambers poster in Waterville were taken down tonight so only the socialists remain and act ignorant and disrespectful.

ciaran76

What the Councillors earned.

I took this from ..
http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/revealed-the-pay-and-perks-of-your-local-councillors-30246438.html




FINGAL 2012 2013 TOTAL
Castleknock 2012 2013 TOTAL
Hamill,Peggy (Lab) 32,504 66,574 99,078
Loftus,Eithne (FG) 32,483 31,779 64,262
Murray, Mags(FF) 31,800 31,298 63,098
Waine, Matt (SP) 23,624 23,181 46,805

Mulhuddart 2012 2013 TOTAL
Coppinger,Ruth (SP) 29,781 29,504 59,285
Dennison,Kieran (FG) 28,685 50,403 79,088
McCamley, Mary (Lab) 24,734 23,689 48,423
McGuinness,David (FF) 24,156 24,013 48,169
O’Donovan, Michael(Lab) 25,778 23,544 49,322

Grudaire

What happened to Peggy Hamill last year!? Unusual peak in expenses!

athtrasna

Grudaire wrote: »

What happened to Peggy Hamill last year!? Unusual peak in expenses!

Not sure but Dennison's hike would be down to being mayor

Finglas Incubus

athtrasna wrote: »

Not sure but Dennison's hike would be down to being mayor

€6k quoted for mayoral travel in 2013 at the link below plus an annual allowance of $6.8k, doesn't quite cover the deficit though:

http://www.fingalcoco.ie/your-council/budgets-expenditure-and-financial-statements/councillors-allowances-expenses-conferences/allowances-and-expenses/

Grudaire

Do they get a 'salary' prior to allowances and expenses?

Finglas Incubus

Grudaire wrote: »

Do they get a 'salary' prior to allowances and expenses?

Yes, this page explains it quite well, interesting graph at the end:

Pay

Councillors get €16,000,a year. 1/2 year term mayors get an extra €16,000 and deputy mayors extra payment of €7,500. Councillors' 'base salary' stays the same – with four earning more than others - Fingal Independent.

Allowances

• a 6,700 yearly expenses allowance.
• A €600 mobile phone allowance is also given.
• On top of these, there is also a tax-free allowance to attend council meetings and a tax-free conference budget of between €1,000 and €4,700 a year.
• Strategic Policy Committees (SPCs) also received a tax-free allowance of up to €6,000 per annum.
• €30.49 per month broadband

Some council members have much greater pay and allowances then others because of extra internal positions such as Mayor, Deputy, SPC chair, council representative on external boards some required some voluntary. The original sources and my charts try to reflect that.

wildlifeboy

is anyone actually stupid enough to vote for FF? I told jack chambers to run as an independent or not get my vote. so hes not getting my vote

oblivious

wildlifeboy wrote: »

is anyone actually stupid enough to vote for FF? I told jack chambers to run as an independent or not get my vote. so hes not getting my vote

David Mcguinness will probably get a fair few votes for his local work

wildlifeboy

well he may be good on the ground but he still has that big FF on his poster, I want that party to die. i was hoping they would but theres obviously a lot of idiots around who will vote for them.

Grudaire

wildlifeboy wrote: »

is anyone actually stupid enough to vote for FF? I told jack chambers to run as an independent or not get my vote. so hes not getting my vote

I'm not hiding the fact that I have no time for Fianna Fáil, but separate to this I find the Jack Chambers campaign puzzling.

He's obviously a smart guy studying Law and now Medicine. But I really feel that he has no experience. And I say this on two levels:

• I can't see anything he has done on his website except to speak at the FF Ard Feis
• Most of his policies either lack substance or are outside the scope of a local councillor.

I wouldn't vote for McGuinness, but at least I would would have faith that he has experience and substance. Either way it looks like Chambers has a good shot at getting in.

folan

Grudaire wrote: »

He's obviously a smart guy studying Law and now Medicine.

medicine? thats a very different story than what his canvasser told me. ive been told hes been offered a job in a top firm but turned it down to focus on politics.

Grudaire

folan wrote: »

medicine? thats a very different story than what his canvasser told me. ive been told hes been offered a job in a top firm but turned it down to focus on politics.

Haven't met the guy but:

I have completed an Honours Degree in Law and Political Science from Trinity College and I am currently studying Medicine.

From here: http://www.jackchambers.ie/

goat2

dont know who i will be voting for, and finding it hard to vote for the present govt due to the large water bills, first home tax, then septic tank, then water charges, and we still have to fork out about four hundred quid for bins, i dont understand why they cannot give a round figure for all these charges together at an affordable price to the peaple, we are at breaking point,
it is beyond a joke,
i will have to look into the independents and others to see if there is one of them worth my vote.
i did vote for this present govt last time, but not anymore,
they burnt us for the banks and the people who squandered the lot,

Toto Wolfcastle

In the local elections I'll be looking at what the individuals can do (and have been doing) in the area, rather than what party they're from. It's all well and good saying that you wont vote for a particular party (and I'm like that myself with one party) but if the people you vote for are ineffective then there really is no point.

Grudaire

Bobblehead Panda wrote: »

In the local elections I'll be looking at what the individuals can do (and have been doing) in the area, rather than what party they're from. It's all well and good saying that you wont vote for a particular party (and I'm like that myself with one party) but if the people you vote for are ineffective then there really is no point.

A little from column A and a little for column B to be honest.

You're right that party doesn't play as big a part for local issues, but it does play some part directly and indirectly (the 'culture' and attitudes within the different parties for example)
Also your councillors today turn into your TDs tomorrow.

Kiwi_knock

I will not be voting for any government parties, it probably helps that the Government candidates have done very little in the area as well. With FF I have mixed feelings, will not be voting Mags Murray or McManus as they are associated with the past.

I might give Chambers a vote, but would have suspicions on why he is running. What young person wants to be a councillor, unless they want to build a profile to run for the Dáil.

Still very uncertain of who to vote for. Last locals, I voted Labour. I want to continue to vote left but am unsure that SF, AAA or PBP are really suited to me. Probably will vote for an independent, but it is really hard to know what an independent really stands for.

ThisRegard

goat2 wrote: »

dont know who i will be voting for, and finding it hard to vote for the present govt due to the large water bills, first home tax, then septic tank, then water charges, and we still have to fork out about four hundred quid for bins,

All set in motion by the previous government as part of the bail out conditions afaik (I'm not too sure about the spetic tank charge, but it's not something many in Dublin have to worry about).

LoonyLovegood

Chambers annoys me. I've previous history with him that I'll let lie, but apart from that he seems to expect to pick up votes from Brian Lenihan's former voters left right and centre. He didn't even know Castleknock Celtic existed...he won't be getting my vote. I'm torn between who to vote for, if I'm totally honest. It'll probably be either McManus or Treacy, but I'm not at all sure.

athtrasna

Just arrived home in Waterville, the posters Chambers took down two weeks ago are back up. I'm fuming!

fluffo

Kiwi_knock wrote: »

I want to continue to vote left but am unsure that SF, AAA or PBP are really suited to me. Probably will vote for an independent, but it is really hard to know what an independent really stands for.

I agree with you there.. it's hard to know really. I'll be voting for the left independent on Friday. I can't bring myself to vote Sinn Fein. And AAA and PBP are just not for me.

I'll be voting TJ Clare number one.

The right-wing independents just seem like jokes to me Mary Martin is former fianna fail and uses too many bad puns for my liking and Sean Lyons has had his time. I'm also interested in Roderic O Gorman from the green party.

It's time for independents though I think.

athtrasna

40 seats on the new Fingal Co Co, reaching any agreement will be hard enough, I don't think a sprinkling of independents will help that. It's likely the so called independents will back others nearest their own political view so you're in effect voting for the parties by proxy?