With just days left until General Election 2011, the Advertiser would like to offer you the opportunity to put your questions to a panel of your local candidates in a public forum.
With 15 candidates in Longford-Westmeath vying for your number one on the ballot sheet, and many voters as yet undecided, the Athlone Advertiser and Mullingar Advertiser, in association with Plus EV Media, will hold a candidate debate this Monday February 21.
In spite of the fact that the debate is being held in Longford, only Westmeath candidates have been brave enough to put their names forward and stand up to public scrutiny in front of a live audience.
No Longford candidates took up the challenge; this includes sitting TDs Peter Kelly (FF ) and James Bannon (FG ) and Labour candidate Mae Sexton.
Five candidates, three from the main political parties as well as two non-party candidates, will be put through their paces on the night.
Confirmed for the debate are Fianna Fáil’s Mary O’Rourke, Sinn Féin’s Paul Hogan, Fine Gael’s Nicky McFadden, and Independent candidates Donal Jackson and David D’Arcy.
With the exception of Mr D’Arcy, all of the candidates hail from Athlone.
The Advertiser would like to offer its readers a chance to come along on the night and put their questions to the candidates.
This is the last chance for voters in Westmeath and Longford to put their questions to the candidates before the General Election vote next Friday February 25. The debate will run for 90 minutes and will be streamed live on the night via the Advertiser website, www.advertiser.ie
If you would like to come along and hear the big issues being debated by your potential representatives, simply email your name, address, phone number, age, and a question if desired, to [email protected] by 5pm on Monday February 21 or call (090 ) 6470920 for more information.
The candidate live debate will take place in the Longford Arms Hotel at 9pm on Monday evening, February 21 in association with Live EV Media, the Advertiser, Longford Leader, Shannonside Radio, and Midlands 103.
Odds
With just a week to go, betting on our local election candidates is hotting up. According to Paddy Power, based on the odds, it is likely that one female TD from Athlone will be replaced by another female candidate from Athlone - they predict Mary O’Rourke (FF ) may have to move over for Nicky McFadden (FG ). Deputy O’Rourke has been pushed from odds on to 6/4, while Senator McFadden is currently 3/10.
Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran has ignited the punters’ interest somewhat, with current odds at 7/1 and a few wagers at double figure odds.
Labour’s Willie Penrose is a sure thing according to Paddy Power with odds of 1/33, while James Bannon (FG ) currently stands at 1/7.
