How local elections have changed

We know local elections are near when the election posters appear on every available pole on the approach roads to town. But of course, the rural landscape cannot escape the explosion of coloured photographs which are also to be found high above the country hedgerows. Their appeal is a simple one – Vote For Me. And yet there are so many ‘Mes’ to be catered for, so many ‘Mes’ with unending promises charged to deflect our vote to one candidate or other. I went through two local election campaigns, the first almost 40 years ago. That first election campaign in 1985 saw all the candidates from the same party provided with canvass cards featuring all the party candidates. There were no individual canvass cards. It all seemed, on the surface at least, a peaceful acceptance of the value of team effort with the notion of letting the best person win. Local Government elections are to national politics what local history is to national history. One does not exist without the other. So, often it is success at the local level of democracy that compels an emerging local politician to step up onto the national stage. Here in south Kildare there are three examples of that type of transfer from the local to the national in the careers of Athy man Paddy Dooley, Castlemitchell native Joe Bermingham and Castledermot man Jack Wall. They were County Councillors and Town Councillors before being elected to the Dail. Not all Council candidates aspire to follow their footsteps and many, indeed the vast majority, are content to devote their time to the local authority. There is enormous free for all atmosphere about the present day election canvassing. The candidates have their own canvass cards, their own election posters and call to voter’s houses, sometimes alone, and sometimes with a few supporters to seek the all-important vote. This individualistic exercise can be a punishing ordeal for the candidates but perhaps even more so for potential voters who are likely to be confused by the priority lists which each of the candidates present. It is difficult to recognise on reading the many and varied priorities and promises wherein lies the job of a County Councillor. A County Councillor’s role is that he or she is part of the policy making arm of the Council sharing reserved functions with executive functions exercised by the Chief Executive Officer, who used to be called the County Manager. The County Councillors are responsible for adopting the Council’s annual budget, Bye Laws, Development plans etc. with a general overview of the Council’s affairs. The functions of the County Council have changed enormously since the time I worked in Kildare County Council many many years ago. Nowadays policy focused committees known as Strategic Policy Committees set up for various Council functions give Councillors better opportunities of developing a significant role in the policy development area. That is good because the Councillors with local knowledge are best placed to help develop policies and strategies which are best for their local communities. Having been elected by voting members of the local community, Councillors have an important role in the democratic process to represent the peoples interests and to articulate local needs and interests. They are an important part of the civic leadership of the community and as such occupy a vital representational role as regards the functions of the County Council. It is intriguing and, to somebody who understands the role of a County Councillor, mystifying to read of the priorities/promises offered by candidates in the forthcoming election. Ranging from crime prevention, mental health initiatives, improved home care facilities, supporting farmers and helping to get medical cards and social welfare benefits. One gets the impression that the job of a County Councillor is not seen by the vast majority of the candidates, including sitting Councillors, as policy making and effective provision of local services but rather as a means to help with matters unconnected with County Council business. There are many people who are functionally illiterate and who need help to meet the growing detailed and exacting requirements for State applications of any kind, but that assistance should be provided by State sponsored Citizen Advice Centres in every town. While no such service exists one appreciates why County Councillors are called upon to help, but I certainly find it questionable why so many people with the ability to make their own applications feel it necessary to call on County Councillors. To have County Councillors employed in this way is wasteful and inappropriate. For democracy to work, we need good candidates from all walks of life to give voice to the peoples needs in a Local Government system which is far too centralised. The power and authority of County Councils in this country is more restricted than any other Local Government system in Europe. Central Governments control of County Councils is exercised by the Department of Local Government through strict administrative, financial and technical control. So should we vote in the Local Government elections? Of course we should. Whatever the shortcomings in the Irish Local Government system or in the Councillors who represent us, it is vitally important that we exercise our voting rights. It is a right previous generations did not enjoy and a right which must be treasured and valued as an essential part of our democracy.