WITH DUBLIN CITY Council preparing to vote on banning election posters in the capital, one councillor claims he has managed to top the poll twice despite never using them.
Independent Joe Conway of Waterford City and County Council has called for posters to be banned in all local authorities, to cut down on needless waste and to make it less expensive for new entrants to politics.
He told TheJournal.ie:
I never use them - I just think they are total waste, an abomination.
“In fact without hanging up any posters I topped the poll.”
Conway won 11.5% of all first preferences at the 2014 local elections for the county council of Tramore-Waterford City West, and was also elected in 2009.
He added:
I don’t think posters mean anything to anyone any more.
“It’s your work on the ground that matters – your supply of newsletters, regular briefings and updates of constituents from door to door.
You don’t need posters, getting elected is really a product of hard work.
Council property
Dublin City Council will consider a motion to ban election posters from city property this evening.
South Dublin councillors have already unanimously asked the council’s environment committee to look at restricting posters to certain areas in their area, which includes the suburbs of Clondalkin, Lucan, Rathfarnham, Tallaght, Terenure and Templeogue in the capital.
Conway says such a move would make it much easier for new blood to enter the fray.
“People are put off by the posters, the last time I checked it was €12 a throw for laminated ones.
So if you’re putting [up] 100, then it’s €1200 for the lot, which is a lot of money without a party machine.
“It’s hassle – taking them down, ensuring people shimmying up lampposts. We’d be better off without them.”
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