Brought to you in association with People First Credit Union
This time five years ago – Friday, May 23, 2014 – a total of 33,333 people cast their vote in the Local Elections in Laois.
Something similar will do so tomorrow as well as having their say in the European Elections and in the Divorce Referendum. There’s very few events other than elections or referendums that the people of the country partake in collectively on the same scale.
And everyone’s vote is the same, they all have the same importance, the same standing when they’re eventually sorted, tallied and counted.
It’s why it’s so important that you take the opportunity to vote. Your vote could make the difference to a candidate getting elected or not. The importance of ‘Number 1’ gets plenty of traction but every vote matters and could make a difference.
The eighth preference that you opt for may eventually get and need that vote.
Politicians have a bad name and get a hard time – even more so now in the social media age. Some of it is deserved. Some of it isn’t.
But our experience of local representatives over a number of years is of genuine candidates who want to make a big difference to the local communities they live in.
There is no glamour in local politics. For the most part it’s about potholes and lamp-posts, maisonettes and road signs. Small things to the wider world but can make the world of difference to those effected.
It’s not supposed to be a full-time job but the hours are long and unsociable and the money isn’t great.
Many of those elected are full-time representatives but they have to publicly re-apply for the job every five years. It takes huge bravery to put yourself out there in that manner.
Everyone wants to know the winners but losing a seat, or not getting elected, has to be a painful, public, harrowing experience only fully understood by those who go through it personally – and, by extension, their families.
Half of the candidates this weekend in Kealew Business Park, where the counting is taking place, will leave defeated.
But every last one of them must be commended for putting themselves forward.
Make it your business tomorrow to get out and vote for one of them.
And may the best men and women win.
SEE ALSO – Check out all the LaoisToday Local Election coverage
