Farrell reclaims his seat on the council
ALTHOUGH not a new face to many, Cllr Ken Farrell has reclaimed his seat in Fingal County Council.
A former chairperson of the Eastern Health Board, Cllr Farrell was first elected in 1985 in the Balbriggan ward. In 1999, after 14 years of service, he had to step down due to family circumstances.
In 2004, after a fiveyear departure from politics, Cllr Farrell hoped to reclaim his council seat, but was unsuccessful.
This year, however, this Irish Rail station foreman was elected to the council in the Balbriggan Electoral Area on the first count, with a staggering 3,388 votes, almost 450 votes in excess of the quota of 2,951.
As he embarks on his new term in office, let us get to know the Labour county councillor and his policies a little better:
Did you expect to get elected?
I did expect to get elected, but I didn't expect to top the polls.
What are your ambitions as a newly elected councillor?
I have been elected long enough to know that there is a limit to what a person can do. In this position, I hope to improve the economic situation.
In addition, I have a list of priorities to achieve depending on the council's expendable income for capital projects.
What are you going to bring to the ward?
I hope to create a council that can be visible and a council that
people can trust.
What is the biggest challenge facing you as a newly elected councillor?
I want to ensure mistakes that were made in the past, particularly in development, are not made again and that all previous development projects are fully completed.
How do you feel working 24/7 as a councillor?
Well I hope to retire from Iarnrod Eireann soon and devote all of my time to the council.
What made you enter politics?
Well, I was elected in 1985 as a councillor and I missed being in politics.
Why did you choose Labour as your chosen party?
I chose Labour because I believe in equality, tolerance and fairness.
