Candidates in Galway seize on clamping issue

Council area profile/Galway city: If Garda Shaun Durkin ever had any political ambitions, he could have done well to seek a nomination in this year's local elections in Galway city. He has been identified as the hero of the hour in the controversial car-clamping incident earlier this month.

It was the young garda who paid the clamping fine for the parent of a sick child outside a doctor's clinic. The incident has provided local election material for several councillors, with one from Fianna Fáil and two Progressive Democrats stating in no uncertain terms that it is time to give the clamping firm involved "the boot".

However, Labour has said the issue is more fundamental, in that a more efficient and comprehensive public transport system would avoid car traffic in the city centre in the first place.

It is a debate that is likely to rage long after June 11th, when the city electorate in three wards return 15 public representatives from a field of 38 candidates. Currently, the city council is carved up between Fianna Fáil, with five seats, Fine Gael and the PDs with four each, and Labour with two councillors. However, four of the 15 incumbents are not running again - two are due to retire and two are quitting as a result of the ban on the "dual mandate".

Fianna Fáil's Sen Margaret Cox, who failed to take a third seat for the party in Galway West in the general election, is stepping aside - but hoping to keep her vote in the family.

Her brother, Mr Tom Cox is standing in the South ward, along with sitting councillor Val Hanley, who resigned from the chair of the Western Health Board due to his opposition to the smoking ban.

Labour barrister and alderman Catherine Connolly has taken a calculated gamble to switch from the West ward, where she topped the poll in 1999, to the South ward. She is hoping that her sister, Colette, a community activist,will sweep up some or all of her support in the West and increase Labour's representation in City Hall.

However, there's also a view that Labour's strategy is designed to shadow the Green Party's Niall Ó Brolcháin, who increased the Green vote in Galway West during the last general election and was only eliminated after the 13th count. His transfers went to Labour. His running mates are Aoibheann McCann in the West ward and Kieran Cunnane in the North East ward.

The PDs, including Mayor Terry O'Flaherty, hope to hold their four seats, and even take a fifth if Gary Creaven, standing in the North East ward, can increase its edge over Fine Gael. Mr Creaven lost out to Fine Gael's Fintan Coogan by just two votes in 1999. However, Fine Gael hopes to retain its four seats and take a fifth if there is an anti-Government vote. Fine Gael bookmaker John Mulholland is not shortening the odds on himself - "a big mistake in politics", he says - and expects that there will be a "dogfight" for the last seats in two of the three wards, with five sitting councillors running for four seats in the South.

Sinn Féin has a candidate running in each of the three wards, with solicitor, Daniel Callanan, in the North East ward, having the highest profile. There are also several Independents, including Nigerian-born model, Tokie Laotan, standing in the North East ward, while Nigerian pastor, Paul Osikoya, is running in the South and West wards.

Housing lists, health, transport, crime and services are some of the issues extending to all areas of the city, but the long-running controversy over a community centre for Knocknacarra is an issue in the South ward suburb, which has grown by over 2,000 since 1999.

Turnout will be a big factor, with candidates needing over 700 first-count votes to be guaranteed a seat. The best guess is four seats each for Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the PDs, with Labour holding two and the Greens taking one. Sinn Féin is regarded as an "unknown quantity".