A FIRST time candidate in any election has a lot of growing up to do. You have to be a quick learner and have some street smarts. However one thing is that people can’t blame you for wrong decisions in the past. This is to your main advantage.
What’s it’s like for a first time candidate
Machiavelli says: “One must be a fox in order to recognise traps, and a lion to frighten off wolves.” The first time candidate will see enemies both within and outside his/her chosen party. However Insider would say to the first time candidate that bouts of paranoia are quite normal and not a sign that you are going insane. There are people out to trap you and take advantage of your naïvety every step along the way…that’s Irish politics. You have to deal with the media who can give you great coverage one week and ignore you for the next month.
You have your photo on thousands of leaflets, then you begin to talk about your political self as a kind of new identity. You may even begin to talk about your self in the third person. At this stage it is time to get a grip before your friends tell you to “cop on”. The truth is that most candidates’ election leaflets will go into the green bin or the fire two minutes after you drop them in the door. Is it a waste of time? Certainly not say well-seasoned canvassers. “You have to get your face out there” and “You have to become known” is their battle cry.
Every one has advice for the first time candidate and most have problems for them to solve. In stressful times such candidates feel they are on the verge of entering a religious preaching order. You know if you do get that seat you will have to sacrifice time with family, friends, and your beloved hobbies to pursue political ambitions and serve constituents.
Your friends and relatives think you have lost it. ‘”Why would anyone put themselves through such an ordeal?’ they ask. Some friends will then keep a distance in case they would catch a dangerous bug if they got too close to you. But all is not lost, there are some brave friends and relations who will take pity on you and give you the support you need. Insider would remind candidates however that inwardly they will still think you are a bit mad.
“Why are you running?” a woman asks you at a door. You give the usual answers like you’d like to see better traffic management, better social housing or you want to see all potholes filled in. She has a look on her face, which says, “I have heard all this before”. You try convincing her you mean what you say and thank her for her time. No vote there you are thinking, I’ll have better luck next door.
Seasoned canvassers, from other political parties, will wish you well. They are sincere, they are eying your number twos as they expect you will be knocked out in the first round.
Politics is not the road to sanctity. You were warned.
In Galway City East there are two Fianna Fail, two Fine Gael, one Labour, and one Sinn Féin candidates going to the polls for the first time. The ward is conservative. It has always been a PD/FF area, it will be difficult to break that cycle.
Voters may justify themselves voting former PDs Terry O’Flaherty and Declan McDonnell because they are now ‘Independents’. However, their aspirations or connections behind closed doors would not embrace Labour or Green policies. In that light, what chance do the first time candidates in the ward stand?
It will be Mary Leahy’s first time to face the electorate but she has the advantage of being a sitting councillor for the past four years. She was co-opted to the council to replace her father, the late Michael Leahy. She has settled into the position quite well but she will have a battle to get votes outside the Renmore area.
Her running mate Sheila Mangan is very active in the community in Terryland and she could pull in votes in the Terryland/Ballyfoyle area. She is strong on local issues but this election is going to be swayed by national ones. It will be all about the loss suffered in the last few months to voters in their take home pay.
Sinn Féin polled extremely well in the 2004 Local Election in the old North and East Ward. If that same support is still there is anyone’s guess, so Insider would caution against anyone writing off Martin Concannon’s chance getting a good vote.
Fine Gael’s Barra Nevin is a gentleman and very helpful to customers at his pharmacy in Doughiska. He is involved with some charities and Insider understands that he loves sailing. Whether he has the appetite for the blood sport which is politics, time will tell.
Fine Gael’s Frank Fahy should not be confused with Fianna Fáil’s Frank Fahey. FG Frank is a taxi driver and he is also no-one’s fool. He has a sense of humour and, like anyone who comes from a large family, he is prepared to fight for his side of the table.
Green candidate James Hope is another first timer. Insider regards him as a serious guy. He was NUI, Galway Students’ Union president last year, but with the Greens in Government and students fees looming, it will be difficult for him to take a seat.
Labour’s Nuala Nolan is the dark horse of Galway City East. She has been a constant writer to the editor in the letters page of the Galway Advertiser. She has strong view on all issues concerning local and national politics. As a full time worker who clocks in and out in a large multi-national she would have a lot in common with working people in the east side of the city. She has a first hand experience on what it is like having one’s wages eroded by new government levies.
Labour’s other candidate in the ward, Derek Nolan (no relation ) ran in the 2004 Local Elections and all first time candidates will have to beat him to have any chance of taking a seat.
It promises to be an exciting race to watch. Will John Mulholland give better odds this time?
