“It’s been interesting, I’ve never canvassed for anyone else before never mind myself.” Sandra Cribben is well known for promoting Ballina from her position within Ballina Chamber, but the 38-year-old is hoping to take up residence in a different chamber after June. Cribben put her name forward for this year’s town council elections and hitched herself to the Fianna Fáil ticket in the town where she hopes to take over the seat being vacated by outgoing councillor Padraig Moore, who has decided to step down from the council at the end of this term.
Cribben has been involved in a number of community organisations, both professionally and as a volunteer, since she first moved to Ballina in 1993 after she finished college, and she believes her experiences make her the perfect candidate for the town council.
“I’ve been involved with the Money, Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS ), Parkside CDB, The Haven childcare centre, and latterly with the Ballina Chamber. I’ve seen how things work from the other side of lobbying the council and have worked closely with all the members and the executive in the council so I think that I have the skills to make me a good councillor for all the people of Ballina. “
Cribben has outlined her major priorities should she get elected as being the provision of free family facilities in the town such as ensuring the different planned parks for the town proceed, and the further development of Belleek Woods. Sandra also wants to ensure that the town council works closely with all the sporting organisations in the town to ensure they thrive and give the community a sporting outlet. The River Moy is the jewel in Ballina’s crown and Cribben wants to ensure it stays that way and see improvement works carried out on the river bank. She also wants to see the development of a harbour area and marina at the quay in the future to further boost the tourism potential of the river. Cribben also counts the take-over of private estates, improvements in the Parkside area, and the promotion of arts and culture in the town as major issues she will focus on if she is elected to the town council.
Having never been on the canvass trail before, it was a nervous experience for Cribben, knocking on the doors of Ballina looking for votes, especially with her chosen party taking a hammering in opinion polls and in the media over the last 12 months. “It has been good, some people tell you you’re flying the right colours and will definitely get a tick, while others are disappointed with Fianna Fáil and the way things have gone, but I’ve found that once they let you talk to them about the issues that you are campaigning on they will listen to you and what you have to say on the issues in the town. It’s a different and new situation for me and from what I’ve been doing, but it has been a good experience so far.”
Being involved in Ballina Chamber, Cribben has been made very aware of the difficulties facing the town and the need to continue to promote and push the town, something she is keen to continue if she takes one of the nine spots in the council. “I’ve seen the need to keep pushing Ballina and to keep attracting business into the town with my work for the Chamber. We got a great boost last week with Deputy Dara Calleary being appointed a Minister of State and I’ll be looking forward to working with him to ensure that Ballina grows and cements its future as a leading commercial and industry centre.”
Mixing the day job as a lobbyist with the role of councillor will be a tough task, but Cribben has given herself to Ballina since she first arrived in the town 16 years ago and she’s looking to giving it even more if the people dictate so in June, and it’s a task she’s looking forward to taking up if chosen by the people.
