Government parties trying to ‘buy’ electorate – Maxwell

AN Independent Ireland General Election candidate has accused the Government parties of trying to buy the electorate and running expensive campaigns even before an election has been called.

While the date of the General Election has yet to be announced by the Taoiseach, some candidates have already launched their campaigns, with campaigning around the county underway.

Louisburgh-based councillor Chris Maxwell, who is running for Independent Ireland in the General Election, accused the ‘established parties’ of trying to buy the electorate by ‘wasting thousands’ on early election campaigns.

“We are going to keep it [campaign] simple ... we don’t have the money the big parties have to push for a big campaign. They are throwing thousands upon thousands of money at it to try to buy the electorate.

“People understand what they are at and they are trying to buy the election with a give away budget and they are pumping thousands upon thousands into this campaign for their candidates. We don’t have a hope of competing with that after only fighting a local election and winning it.

“We don’t have the money and the resources and people understand that and people are not going to be bought anymore. The public knows where I am coming from and we are just as good as anyone and we don’t need to be wasting thousands and thousands again and that is all they are at,” he told The Mayo News.

The General Election is likely to be held on November 29 and the latest opinion polls show the two main government party’s, Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil on 22 and 21 percent respectively ahead of Sinn Féin on 17 and Independents on 15.
With the Mayo constituency returning to a five seater, many believe that there is a prospect of an Independent candidate taking a seat.

Alliance
LAST week, Cllr Maxwell and Hollymount-based Independent candidate Patsy O’Brien met with other Independent councillors – Michael Kilcoyne, Richard Finn and Harry Barrett - to solidify their support for independent candidates in the upcoming General Election.

Cllr Maxwell welcomed the agreement reached in the TF Royal Hotel in Castlebar and hoped that with their support, an Independent can be returned as a TD to the Dáíl.

“It is a great show of solidarity and strength that they are willing to join with us and push to get the number ones for us. It is a massive endorsement of the Independents across Mayo,” he said.

“One of the things I will be pushing is to stop this bureaucratic nonsense that is going on. They are wasting money on environmental studies and feasibility studies and anyone with a bit of common sense knows what needs to be done. This country is crying out for someone to do that and we have to take them to task and stop this nonsense. It is a bureaucratic nightmare in the country at the minute and everyone is fed up to the teeth with it.”

Cllr Patsy O’Brien told The Mayo News that if the opinion polls are to be believed there is enough support to return an Independent candidate.

“We [Independents] are all working together and have come up with policies which are affecting people in the county. There is a huge Independent vote across the country but if it materialises into seats or not is another thing,” he said.
Launch

FINE Gael Minister of State, Alan Dillon launched his campaign in the Linenhall Arts Centre in Castlebar on Friday evening with Simon Coveney travelling from Cork to do the honours.

His party colleague, first time candidate Martina Jennings launched her campaign in the McWilliam Park Hotel yesterday (Monday) evening having opened her campaign office on James’s Street in Claremorris on Saturday afternoon.

The CEO of Mayo Roscommon Hospice was joined by former Fine Gael MEP and TD Jim Higgins and Minister of State and Government Chief Whip Hildegarde Naughton, TD, who performed the official opening of the campaign HQ.

“I firmly believe that Martina Jennings would make a strong and fearless advocate for Mayo in Dáil Eireann,” Minister Naughton said.

Ballinrobe councillor Michael Burke, who is part of the Martina Jennings campaign team, said he felt she had all the attributes to be a strong advocate for the people of Mayo in Dáil Eireann.

“She has always listened to people and understands the real struggles facing families in this area and in all of County Mayo. Martina gets things done,” Cllr Burke remarked.