Maxwell to run as Mayo Independent Ireland candidate in general election

Mayo Independent Ireland councillor Chris Maxwell has confirmed that that he will contest the next general election.

The Louisburgh-based councillor who was elected as Independent Ireland's first Mayo councillor confirmed to The Mayo News this morning that he will contest the general election as an Independent Ireland candidate.

Speaking to The Mayo News, Cllr Maxwell said that the survival of rural Ireland is what Independent Ireland are focused on and he feels Mayo needs a strong rural voice to represent the best interest of the people.

“The people of Mayo need a strong Independent candidate focused on commonsense policies and that is where I am coming from. While it is a daunting task we want to make a difference for Ireland and Co Mayo and bring back realistic commonsense policies and reduce bureaucracy across the board. Things are so choked up with red tape and we want to sort that out and make things simple,” he said.

Cllr Maxwell who topped the poll in the Westport Electoral Area in June’s local election will be eyeing the seat which will be vacated by Fine Gael TD Michael Ring who will retire at the end of the Dáil term.

“The opportunity is there now to get in. Here in west Mayo we had one of the finest TDs in Michael Ring and his retirement opens an opportunity for me to try and win this election for Independent Ireland and the people of Co Mayo,” he said.

Cllr Maxwell is the second west Mayo person to announce their candidacy and will face a battle with Westport-based Keira Keogh who was announced as a Fine Gael candidate at the party's selection convention on Sunday evening.

An agricultural contractor by profession, Cllr Maxwell said that support for farming communities will be one of the main agendas in the election campaign and ensuring that families are allowed to build homes in rural Ireland.

He said that more national funding has to be provided to Mayo County Council to fund projects around the county and the requirement for the local authority to provide matching funding has to be looked at.

Cllr Maxwell said that Independent Ireland are confident of electing more TDs following the general election and they are prepared to enter government to ensure their policies are adopted.