One giant step for me..
By James Lawless ~ September 25th, 2008. Filed under: About, Local Focus, Politics.
It’s been quiet.. too quiet.. I’ll confess I’ve been too busy getting on with it to have time for reflection of late, been ploughing ahead on all sorts of issues and hardly come up for air but now it’s time to take a breather and take stock.
Was a busy enough Summer. Fitted in a family holiday which was fab and where lack of Irish media afforded me a substitute fascination with UK politics (the travails of New/Old Labour), sampled some fine Tuscan wines, braved Italian mountain passes in a hired Fiesta and took on (maybe too much) sun sheltering from 41 degree heat at times..
Closer to home, had no problems with sun exposure, whilst politically I was nominated by my home cumann (Sallins) to contest local elections next year (onto the Naas Ward of Kildare County Council). That covers Sallins, Kill, Kilteel, Caragh, Rathmore, Eadestown, Athgarvan and all of Naas town itself. So a big apple indeed and especially so for a first time candidate. But I’m honoured and exhilirated to be put forward and am relishing the challenges ahead.
I feel entering electoral politics is a logical progression from the work I’ve been doing the past few years. I’ve been active on so many different issues, with a variety of lobby/activist groups, and have become aqauinted with the whole process, “Going Native” shouldn’t be a huge culture shock for me. In fact it should represent a formalising of a role I’ve already performed for some time. If I get elected of course and only the people can decide that.
Much of my activity and outlook should be apparent to readers of this blog and of course I shall continue to update here into the election and beyond. I’ve also had a slight redesign and I hope people like the new look.
Sin é for now..
September 25th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
James,
Good luck with the campaign, you can count on me for top advice tips , i’ve seen all the West Wing episodes. Unfortunately, I don’t think Irish politics is upto those standards… I’d run meself but i would much rather take over the state via coup, seems like a lot less work.
September 26th, 2008 at 11:10 am
Congratulations or maybe commiserations on the nomination. Is this a done deal? I understand from the meeja that the party of Dev isn’t doing conventions anymore so it is hard to follow if people are formally selected or not.
It is a positive sign of one’s commitment to your area to show the willingness to give the time and effort that such a campaign requires. Give the part of the country you are in, I should use some horsey reference so my hat’s off to you for getting the bite between your teeth. For all the hassle that may arise along the road, it is a rewarding process to run and I’m sure that through the ups and downs you will enjoy it. Even if at times you come to doubt your own sanity or that of the voters.
September 30th, 2008 at 10:09 am
Hi Lads, thanks for the kind words, re your question Dan I did it the hard way, came up through the cumann, (although HQ seemed happy too). That’s the nomination secured, convention will follow in the coming weeks and ratification but it’s looking good from here on in. James