Cllr Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran is to present his manifesto to the electorate in the Shamrock Lodge Hotel at 9pm next Thursday, February 3.
“It’s a huge challenge, but I think I’m up for it. I’m 12 years a councillor and I think I earned the right to go and challenge for the big one,” he stated.
Cllr Moran is the only independent, General Election candidate for the Longford-Westmeath constituency to have flown his colours to date, and is hosting what he calls a “gathering of supporters for the upcoming campaign” on Thursday night.
“Anybody who wishes to help in the campaign can come along,” he said.
Boxer also hopes to have his constituency office open and ready for visitors by 6pm this evening (Friday ) in the premises of the former Clothes Peg shop, opposite the Prince of Wales hotel on Church Street, and to have his website and Facebook page up and running by the end of the weekend.
“People can drop in any time with their concerns and queries,” he said. The candidate expects to be attending the office himself each morning from 9.30 to 11am.
Like his competitors, Cllr Moran’s constituency office will have registration forms for people who still wish to register to vote, as well as an up-to-date Register of Electors.
“Even if you’re not going to vote for me, I’d still like people to vote anyway as it’s very important,” he said.
“The response on the doorstep has been excellent so far,” he claimed, “and I’m really looking forward to helping the people of Longford-Westmeath.”
The Boxer sensationally severed his hitherto lifelong association with Fianna Fáil only two weeks ago, claiming the party had “lost touch” with the man on the street.
In January 2006 Boxer was narrowly defeated by then Senator Mary O’Rourke 48-39 in a special convention to select a third Fianna Fáil candidate to contest the 2007 General Election alongside the then sitting TDs Donie Cassidy and Peter Kelly.
In the June 2009 local election for Westmeath County Council Boxer topped the poll in the Athlone ward by 600 votes, and was elected on the first count with just under 1,800 votes.
