With Fianna Fáil facing the ire of the public opinion in the media and on the streets, deciding to throw your hat in the ring for the very first time as a local election candidate for the party was never going to be an easy task. However, one young Castlebar man has decided to throw his lot in with the soldiers of destiny and try and take a seat on Castlebar Town Council in the upcoming elections. Stephen Lavelle who at 23 is the youngest candidate in the field has been knocking on the doors around Castlebar asking the people to put their faith in him on June 5 and despite some angry responses to him when he tells the people who he is running for he has enjoyed the canvassing process so far.
“It’s not too bad so far, I would think it’s going pretty well, but there are a lot of angry people out there. But people are looking at it like this, I’m a first time candidate, the youngest in the field and they know it’s not my fault. But it’s nice to be able to stand at the door and let the people they know they have someone to talk to. People will be angry at the start, but they begin to cool down then, there may be anger out there but I would look at it as constructive criticism. That’s the way I approach it, people want to have their say and now is the time to say it when people are calling to the door steps.”
Time for fresh ideas
Lavelle, who comes from a well-known Fianna Fáil family in the town, which included his grand-uncle Pat “the saddler” Lavelle from Castle Street who was a councillor for many years, thinks that he will bring a fresh focus and impetus to the council if he gets elected. “Well you know yourself, young people need a young representative and someone to be in there to think like they think themselves. Fresh ideas and fresh focus are needed, the only way to have that is to have a young person in the field. I want to be there for everybody though not just young people, especially people with disabilities that’s why I want to be there. The town was made better for me when I was growing up and I want to do it for the next generation.”
Working in the Cheshire Home has given Lavelle a keen interest and understanding as to the issues that people with physical disabilities have to deal with every day and is something that he wants to put an emphasis on. “My job has me working so close with people with physical disabilities that I would hope I could look after them with regards to accessibility issues, like car parking spaces, footpaths being in good quality, having drop down curbs in safe locations in the town.”
Despite downturn Castlebar is ready to grow
Lavelle also believes that the town is in a good position to prosper and grow, despite the current economic climate and more proper planning has to be put into the promotion of the town and the provision of services. “At the end of the day we have a good infrastructure in the town and we have to work off that and come up with a good strategy to build up the infrastructure more, we have a fine town here and we have to work from that. The town is expanding, and we have to try and free up traffic and get proper parking for people coming into the town to do their shopping. We have to boost tourism in the town and come up with a proper plan to promote the town, were only 11 miles from the coast it’s something we have to promote more.”
With the opinion polls not favouring his party and being a first time candidate, Lavelle is not going to be put of politics if he fails to get elected this time around. “Not one bit would it put me off going again if I don’t get elected, at the end of the day it’s hard to win the first time but I’m giving it a good go. I’d go again because I believe change is needed and I could bring an awful lot to the table.”
