Just a few weeks ago Fine Gael’s Peter Flynn and Labour’s Keith Martin, both sitting councillors on Westport Town council, condemned the vandalism and destruction of political posters outside Westport. The graffiti, which appeared to have been designed to pit two of Westport’s popular young councillors against each other, had the opposite effect with both Flynn and Martin coming together to remove the posters and condemn the cowardly act which they believe was politically motivated.
Cllr Flynn said: “Considering that 90 per cent of the cost of running an election for any candidate or party is related to posters it really is time to review the whole process of postering. In my view the world of politics would be a better place if we eliminated political donations and church gate collections which ultimately fund candidates’ posters and make it a level playing field for every candidate.”
While Cllr Martin said there are those who feel threatened by him and Cllr Flynn for wanting to change the system and upset the status quo he added: “I am grateful to Cllr Flynn for his help and co-operation in highlighting this issue and I look forward to June 5 when a new breeze will blow through Mayo politics.”
