Fianna Fáil Minister Eamon Ó Cuív will be in Castlebar tonight (Friday evening April 17 ) to officially launch the election campaign of Mayo County Council and Castlebar Town Council election candidate Blackie Gavin. Cllr Gavin is contesting the Mayo County Council elections for the first time this year, having served on Castlebar Town Council since 1994.
“It is a big challenge for me but it is a challenge that I am relishing. I have worked extremely hard for the people of Castlebar over the past 15 years and I am now ready for the step up to Mayo County Council,” he said.
Crime prevention and community policing, better rural and urban infrastructure and attracting new industry and employment to the west are three of Cllr Gavin’s top priorities.
“We are in a difficult economic time at present and it will take innovation, commitment and vision from public representatives like myself to lead us out of this recession. I will always put the people of Mayo first and I will continue to represent them with a passion and pride if I get elected on this occasion,” he said.
Mayor of Castlebar on three occasions, Cllr Gavin is adamant that community groups and voluntary organisations now need more support than ever. He is also adamant that the rollout of broadband to rural communities right across Mayo must be addressed immediately.
“We must be able to compete with towns and cities in other parts of the country to survive. I believe that if we support the people on the ground then communities will prosper and fight their way out of this economic downturn,” he said.
Having completed 13 marathons for charity including the Dublin, New York, Boston and London marathons, Cllr Gavin stated: “This campaign is a marathon not a spirit. I am going to keep campaigning until the people of Mayo get what they are entitled to and what they deserve.”
The launch of Cllr Gavin’s campaign for the Mayo County Council and Castlebar Town Council elections takes place in the Welcome Inn Hotel tonight, April 17 at 10pm. The launch is open to the public and everyone is invited to attend.
