Pauline Mellon, a Derry social justice activist, nails her colours to the mast ahead of tomorrow's election.
As we edged closer to the 2016 assembly election I hoped that there would be a candidate that would go beyond the hot air and noxious gases expelled by the political parties.
Like a lot of people I'm fed up with broken promises from those you really only see every election time. The people of this city deserve better than what has passed for representation to date.
To say the announcement that a professional woman, with 25 years experience working at the coal face, would be standing as an independent candidate was welcome was an understatement. As someone who wants to see the best for this city, I wanted to speak to Anne McCloskey, who I'd met a number of years back at the 40th Bloody Sunday march. I wanted to sound her out, this time as a potential candidate.
As we edged closer to the 2016 assembly election I hoped that there would be a candidate that would go beyond the hot air and noxious gases expelled by the political parties.
Like a lot of people I'm fed up with broken promises from those you really only see every election time. The people of this city deserve better than what has passed for representation to date.
To say the announcement that a professional woman, with 25 years experience working at the coal face, would be standing as an independent candidate was welcome was an understatement. As someone who wants to see the best for this city, I wanted to speak to Anne McCloskey, who I'd met a number of years back at the 40th Bloody Sunday march. I wanted to sound her out, this time as a potential candidate.
To make the commitment to support a candidate and not just by casting my vote is not a decision I took lightly. I wanted change, I wanted to see Derry and it's people get what we deserve but I wanted to make sure my trust in a candidate was warranted. I made my way to speak to Anne, and I'm glad I did.
Here was a woman not afraid to speak her mind and to stand up for what she believes in. With this I thought to myself, this is what Derry needs, an intelligent articulate person, who will stand up for Derry.
I've seen every type of crap, rumour and innuendo thrown at her, and she's brushed it off, actually she laughed it off. What I've seen from Anne is that she's focused, determined and above all, she is honest.
To me, Anne McCloskey has more integrity in one hand than the parties have between them collectively. There's no false promises, no bluster, no nonsense, what you see is what you get. Anne didn't have to wheel out musicians or movie stars, nor did she use the deaths of 10 men as an election platform. She stood on the issues, issues that she and her husband Dr John Hill support people in this city with every day.
What I'd like you to do, is look at the track record of the candidates in their respective fields and base your decision on who to vote for on that. For me a GP and Civil & Human Rights campaigner with 25 years experience wins hands down. Well respected, dedicated and there for her patients, I have no doubt she will translate those same qualities to the political arena.
And that's why she has has my full support. We need more Anne McCloskey's. She has my vote, my family's votes and I hope that she's the catalyst for change in other areas.
Here was a woman not afraid to speak her mind and to stand up for what she believes in. With this I thought to myself, this is what Derry needs, an intelligent articulate person, who will stand up for Derry.
I've seen every type of crap, rumour and innuendo thrown at her, and she's brushed it off, actually she laughed it off. What I've seen from Anne is that she's focused, determined and above all, she is honest.
To me, Anne McCloskey has more integrity in one hand than the parties have between them collectively. There's no false promises, no bluster, no nonsense, what you see is what you get. Anne didn't have to wheel out musicians or movie stars, nor did she use the deaths of 10 men as an election platform. She stood on the issues, issues that she and her husband Dr John Hill support people in this city with every day.
What I'd like you to do, is look at the track record of the candidates in their respective fields and base your decision on who to vote for on that. For me a GP and Civil & Human Rights campaigner with 25 years experience wins hands down. Well respected, dedicated and there for her patients, I have no doubt she will translate those same qualities to the political arena.
And that's why she has has my full support. We need more Anne McCloskey's. She has my vote, my family's votes and I hope that she's the catalyst for change in other areas.
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I wonder will she be campaigning or voting for the extension of 1967 Abortion Act into the North as some Unionist politicians are doing.
ReplyDeleteI also forgot to mention that People before Profit Derry candidate will be campaigning for the extension of the 1967 Abortion Act into the North.
ReplyDelete