Letter to the editor

Dear Editor,

 

I would like to reply to your column in last week's Western People.

 

In your piece you suggested that the government postpone the Local Elections scheduled for June as you see them as an "unnecessary luxury", "a distraction" and because of "local candidates making ridiculous unattainable promises to a desperate electorate".

 

Firstly, I have to draw you attention to the Twentieth Amendment of the Constitution which requires that local elections be held every five years.  Consequently, your suggestion to postpone the Local Elections as a money saving measure would require a constitutional amendment which would prove just a costly as the Local Elections, whether or not it were to succeed. 

 

Secondly, I would also draw your attention to the same Amendment of the Constitution which "recognises the role of local government in providing a forum for the democratic representation of local communities, in exercising and performing at local level powers and functions conferred by law and in promoting by its initiatives the interests of such communities."  There can be no democratic representation if elections are postponed to save money and prevent distractions!

 

Thirdly, I think it is the duty of papers like the Western People to hold up to public scrutiny those local election candidates who are, in your opinion, "making ridiculous unattainable promises to a desperate electorate".  You should name and shame those who would cheapen the role of local democracy by such behaviour.

 

Finally, as a hard working councillor and candidate, who believes passionately in strengthening local democracy, I am disappointed to see you use your column to undermine local democracy and elections as an "unnecessary luxury".  Democracy is too important to be postponed, and too vital to be dismissed as a distraction.

 

Instead, you should use your column to encourage voters to demand the best from candidates and their parties, and demand that those same candidates outline policies which will deal with the recession at a local level.  Your column should be a bully-pulpit which demands only the best for Mayo from those candidates who would seek office. 

 

Do not run the system down, build it up by making local election candidates reach higher and deliver more for Mayo.  The electorate deserve nothing less than this from the Western People and its editor.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Cllr Keith Martin

33 Pairc na Coille

Westport

Co. Mayo

 

086 0691182

098 24852

098 25747