THE Mayor of Killarney has opted not to contest the February 8 general election but he admitted that he almost had a change of heart after initially saying he would not be a candidate.
Following a meeting of his Kerry Independent Alliance Party last week, Cllr Michael Gleeson said a decision had been taken not to enter the fray but the retired primary schoolteacher came under intense pressure to change his mind in the days leading up to the close of nominations.
Picture: Valerie O’Sullivan
He polled 5,000 voted for the then South Kerry Independent Alliance in the 2011 general election and he has been a very big vote winner in the two local elections since then.
The dismal failure of the Labour Party to find a candidate opened a door of opportunity for Cllr Gleeson – a former member of the party – and there was widespread feeling that he stood to benefit most from that scenario.
There is also mounting concern that none of the 13 candidates that will appear on the ballot paper live in Killarney and, KillarneyToday.com understands, a number of Mayor Gleeson’s Killarney Municipal District colleagues had approached him to reconsider and had pledged to “work the phones” to encourage their own supporters to vote for him.
Cllr Gleeson said last night, however, that he had opted against doing so.
“Following on much discussion and deep reflection, I have decided not to contest the upcoming general election,” he said.
“I will continue to strive as hard as I can for the Killarney Municipal District and hope that all of us co-operating can make the entire area into an even better place in which to work, study, play and interact,” he added.
Kenmare councillor Dan McCarthy also gave serious consideration to adding his name to the ballot paper but, after deliberating on the matter throughout the weekend, he opted not to do so.
A total of 13 candidates have declared their intentions to run in Kerry, including outgoing TDs, Brendan Griffin (FG), Michael Healy-Rae (Ind), Danny Healy-Rae (FG) and John Brassil (FF).
Also in the field are Norma Moriarty (FF), Pa Daly (SF), Norma Foley (FF), Mike Kennelly (FG), Cleo Murphy (GP), Sonny Foran (Aontú), Ted Cronin (Ind), Sean O’Leary (Ind) and John Bowler (IFP).
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