Waterford Councillor objects to sending letter to election contesters

At the first Metropolitan Council meeting for Waterford City and County Council, it was proposed by Councillor Lola O'Sullivan that a letter be sent to the former councillors who sat at the previous Council, but had lost their seats in the local elections in June.

Three former councillors lost out on their seats, including Jody Power of the Green Party (who was Mayor of the Metropolitan area at the time of the election); also sitting for the Green Party was Cristiona Kiely, and Stephanie Keating, who represented Fianna Fáil. 

With conversation flowing back and forth between the recently elected Council members and their newest Mayor, Metropolitan Mayor Joe Kelly acknowledged the work of Mr Power, Ms Kiely and Ms Keating as former council members.

"I want to express my thanks as the incoming Mayor to those councillors. To Cllr Power for the way he went about his duties as Mayor, the way he ran our meetings very fairly and efficiently, and indeed Cllr Kiely who always held her side of the argument, whatever argument we were having, and did it to the very best of her ability.

"I think it's only right and proper to recognise both of them," said Mayor Kelly. 

He added shortly after that Ms Keating was a third member to have not returned. "I thought she was an excellent councillor in her time here. As it went with democratic vote, she didn't quite make it, but I still think it's important that this Metropolitan AGM do mention Councillor Keating to thank her for her dedication and service to the people of Waterford."

The Mayor continued: "And fair play to Councillor O'Sullivan for suggesting that we as a body should write to them and express our thanks for their roles in those two offices." 

On the back of Cllr O'Sullivan's suggestion, a council member interrupted Mayor Kelly to propose that the letter be sent to more than just those who formerly represented the Council. 

"Mayor, would it be a nice gesture to send a letter to everybody who stood in the local elections, from the Council, telling them to keep it up and try again," he was asked.

The Mayor assumed at first there would be no issue, and said, "We can indeed. There's no objection to that..." 

However, Councillor Mary Roche spoke up and voiced her strong opinion on the matter of sending a letter to all who contested the election in June. 

"Mayor, I would object to sending a letter to some of those people in my name," she said. Councillors then began to discuss the proposal among themselves, becoming chatty in the chamber. 

It was Councillor Adam Wyse who brought the attention of the room back to the matter at hand with a suggestion of "writing to the former members of the Council who weren't returned", which was agreed by all.