Two of the SDLP’s longest serving councillors in Derry will not seek re-election to Derry City Council at next year’s local government elections.
Standing down… Shaun Gallagher.
Jim Clifford, from Creggan, and Shaun Gallagher, from Shantallow will be joined by sitting councillors Eamon McAuley and Ann Donnelly in giving up their Guildhall seats.
The SDLP has confirmed its candidates to contest the 2014 election which will see those successfully elected become part of the new “super council” when Derry City Council amalgamates with Strabane District Council as part of the Review of Public Administration.
Candidates include former councillor Jim McKeever who will seek election in the Faughan electoral area.
First time candidates are:
:: Brian Tierney, a nephew of city SDLP stalwart John Tierney, and Colm O’Connor, a politics student at Queen’s University in Belfast, who will seek election in the Ballyarnett (former Shantallow) electoral area.
:: Emmet Doyle, MLA Pat Ramsey’s advisor, will contest the Moor (former Cityside) electoral area.
:: Rory Farrell, a staff member in Foyle MLA Colum Eastwood’s constituency office, will seek election in the Foyleside (made up mostly of the Northland ward) electoral.
Dermott Henderson, who contested the 2011 elections, is to seek election in the Moor ward.
Sitting councillors Gerard Diver, Martin Reilly, current Mayor (Waterside), Angela Dobbins, Jimmy Carr (Ballyarnett), John Boyle, Shauna Cusack (Foyleside), Brenda Stevenson, Gus Hastings (Faughan) and Sean Carr (Moor) have all be selected to represent the party.
