Another independent candidate for election?
by Danielle Harney Updated: Friday, 28th January, 2011 3:00pm
Edenderry councillor Fergus McDonnell will decide over the weekend whether to run as an independent candidate in the general election.
The town councillor will need to make his decision as soon as possible, with only about four weeks remaining until the voting day which is expected to take place on February 25.
He said he plans to discuss his options with family and supporters this weekend.
Cllr McDonnell said that his supporters began to contact him in December when the Green Party called for an early election, asking him to contest the election.
“I am privileged that so many people have openly committed to supporting me,” said Cllr McDonnell, speaking on Wednesday. “I’m expecting to come to a decision over the weekend now.”
Cllr McDonnell is currently Cathaoirleach of Edenderry Town Council, having been first elected in 1985 to the Town Commission.
He also served on Offaly County Council and the Midland Regional Authority from 2004 to 2009 and also with a large number of community involvements throughout the North Offaly area.
He said that there was probably a larger number of “floating voters” for this election and that many people feel that Fianna Fáil are too long in power and a change is needed.
Cllr McDonnell is currently studying in college, so he also needs to find out if he would be able to defer his course if he decides to contest the election. The councillor is unemployed, having worked previously in Bord na Móna and the FCA.
If Cllr McDonnell decides to run, he will be the fourth independent candidate declared to run in the Laois/Offaly constituency, after two other county councillors John Leahy and Eddie Fitzpatrick confirmed they are running. Former journalist Liam Dumpleton is also a confirmed independent candidate after disassociating himself from the United Left Alliance.
