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Fierce battle for final two seats
28.05.09
by Liam Porter,
Inishowen Independent
THE IMPORTANCE of the transfers is certain to play a
huge role in finalising the line up of Inishowen’s
elected representatives next month with three and
possibly even four seats coming down to a fierce
battle.
With Padraig MacLochlainn’s surplus likely to see
Sean Ruddy over the line and John Ryan’s first
preferences giving him a strong chance of election,
the battle for the last four seats could be a real
humdinger.
The ability to attract transfers from across the
board could be enough to see Rena Donaghey and
surprisingly independent candidate Nicholas Crossan
elected, which would leave a huge battle for two
seats.
Many would have considered long-serving councillor
Bernard McGuinness a shoe-in to be re-elected but
that is not borne out in the results of this poll. |
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Indeed it would appear
that the proximity of Mickey Doherty, Martin Farren,
Marian McDonald, Batty Connell, Charlie McConalogue
and Bernard McGuinness to each other may well prompt
a fierce battle along the east of the peninsula.
Of these it would seem that Batty Connell and
Charlie McConalogue look least likely to be in the
shake-up when it comes to the race for seats but
Mickey Doherty could press for the seat held by
Bernard McGuinness or Marian McDonald with figures
showing he could attract 9% of second preferences,
ahead of 7% for both sitting councillors.
A similar battle of geography was thought likely to
happen in the south of the peninsula but the figures
from last week would seem to indicate that Fine
Gael’s John Ryan is on course to sweep up the bulk
of his party’s vote in the south of the peninsula
with Keith Roulston unlikely to press for a seat.
Meanwhile Fianna Fail candidate Paul Canning who
will be hoping to take the seat of retiring
councillor Francis Conaghan, may need more transfers
than the 4% showing in the polls to keep him in the
race.
Those transfers could come from any source with the
poll showing erratic transfer patterns with votes
crossing in all directions between the candidates.
That, and the fact that there remains a huge number
of undecided voters, means however that at this
point in time most of the candidates could still be
in with a chance if they can maximize their vote in
the next ten days. |
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