Sitting in to his fourth term, Fine Gael county councillor Tom McHugh said that he will spare no effort in serving the people of Tuam tackling issues such as lack of housing and representing the many hit by six years of “horrendous austerity”.
Speaking at the count centre at Bailey Allen Hall, NUI Galway, on Sunday afternoon, Cllr McHugh thanked his family, canvassers and supporters, and all the people who have helped him over the last 15 years as a public representative. He added that it was “great honour” to be elected once again to Galway County Council, to get a substantial vote, and to be elected the fifth candidate for the Tuam electoral area.
Cllr Seán Canney (Ind ), Cllr Peter Roche (FG ), Cllr Mary Hoade (FF ), and newcomer Michael Fitzmaurice (Ind ) were elected simultaneously in the first count of the Tuam electoral area. Cllr McHugh received 1,598 first preference votes in count one. With transfers from Canney in the second count, he received 256 to bring him to 1,854 votes. Transfers from Roche in the third count gave Cllr McHugh a further 248 votes giving a total of 2,102 bringing him over the quota of 1,862.
Cllr McHugh, a native of Kilcolghans who served as Mayor of County Galway for the 2009-2010 term, said it was now his duty to return the compliment to the people who voted for him and make representations on their half, particularly in the areas of housing and economics.
