Cllr Mary Butler with Fianna Fáil Health Spokesperson Billy Kelleher, chair of the Waterford General Election selection convention

Cllr Mary Butler with Fianna Fáil Health Spokesperson Billy Kelleher, chair of the Waterford General Election selection convention

COUNCILLOR Mary Butler
will contest the forthcoming
general election for Fianna Fáil
in Waterford.
The Portlaw based councillor
emerged victorious following
a hotly contested selection
convention which was held at
Lawlor’s Hotel in Dungarvan on
Thursday last May 28th.
She beat off stiff competition
from three male candidates
based in Waterford city, namely
Cllr Eamon Quinlan, Cllr Jason
Murphy and Cllr Eddie Mulligan.
Speaking following her
victory, Cllr Butler said she was
honoured and humbled to have
been selected by the delegates
in attendance and said she would
“fi ght back” for Fianna Fáil in
Waterford.
Cllr Butler represents the
Comeragh electoral area and was
fi rst elected to Waterford City &
County Council in last May’s
local election.
She works part-time in John
Martin Jewellers in Georges
Court in the city centre and is
involved in many community
groups.
“I am a passionate voice for
the people of Comeragh and I’m
not afraid to voice my opinion,”
she said.
“I have my finger on the
pulse regarding the diffi culties
facing businesses throughout
our city and county and as a
married mother of three I fully
understand the struggles facing
families today.”
She continued: “Waterford
needs a strong TD, rooted in
their community, committed to
serving the whole county and
who will be a credible force in
the next Dáil. I am very pleased
to take on that challenge and I
look forward to working with
all my Fianna Fáil colleagues
in Waterford to take on this
failed Government.”
Last Thursday’s meeting
was chaired by Fianna Fáil
Health Spokesperson and TD
for Cork North Central Billy
Kelleher.
He praised Cllr Butler’s
“tenacity and commitment to
public life and resolving individual’s
problems”.
The total valid poll at the
selection convention was 159,
with the quota being 80.
Cllr Eddie Mulligan was
eliminated on the fi rst count.
The local businessman was
elected as an Independent
candidate in last year’s local
elections but joined Fianna
Fáil last November.
Cllr Jason Murphy was eliminated
on the second count,
while the third count was
fought between Cllr Eamon
Quinlan and Cllr Mary Butler.
“I am delighted to have the
trust and confi dence of the
Fianna Fáil members in Waterford
to fi ght the next election
and win back an important seat
for the party in this constituency,”
said Cllr Butler.
“The next election will be
really important in deciding
the future direction we take in
our society. Fianna Fáil will
Waterford General Election candidate Cllr Mary Butler pictured with her family (L-R) Jack, husband Michael and Jane.
Cllr Mary Butler pictured with Fianna Fáil Health Spokesperson Billy Kelleher, chair of the Waterford General Election selection
convention. PHOTO: PAT CROWLEY.
never settle for the idea that
you can have either a strong
economy or a fair society but
not both,” she added.
The Fianna Fáil party has
come under increased pressure
to meet new gender quota
criteria ahead of the general
election.
However, Cllr Butler has
stressed that she is seeking
to win a seat for the party
based on her merit and not her
gender.
Meanwhile, there are continued
calls for Fianna Fáil to put
forward a second candidate in
the Waterford constituency to
contest the general election.
Speaking at last week’s
convention, Mayor of Waterford
City & County Council
Cllr James Tobin outlined his
support for the idea.
“I ask this convention to
send a message back to headquarters
that we want two candidates
in this constituency,”
he said.
Mayor Tobin said there was
“a feeling of goodwill towards
Fianna Fáil” throughout Waterford
city and county.
The party currently holds
nine seats on Waterford City &
County Council.