Longford Independent councillor Gerry Warnock sets sights on winning Dáil seat

Outgoing independent councillor Gerry Warnock has announced that he will be running as a candidate in the forthcoming general election.

Just two months after revealing that he wouldn't be contesting the June 7 local election, 46-year-old Cllr Warnock, who has served as a councillor in the Longford Municipal District since 2011, announced his intentions on Friday last.

Speaking to the Longford Leader, Cllr Warnock stated that his platform will be based on “basic common sense.”

“I will be upfront with people and I want good, honest debate. Debate has become increasingly polarised. Housing and health are big issues, as well as attracting investment to Longford,” he explained.

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Cllr Warnock accepts that he will be an underdog in a field which in Longford is likely to feature Fianna Fáil Deputy Joe Flaherty and Fine Gael Senator Micheál Carrigy.

While on the Westmeath side of the constituency there are three sitting TDs in the guise of Fine Gael Minister Peter Burke, Sinn Féin's Sorca Clarke and Fianna Fáil’s Robert Troy.

“I cannot afford to spend €20 or €30,000 on a campaign. I intend to do a lot with social media. Over the next few weeks, I intend to get more known to people around the county,” he stated.

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Cllr Warnock confirmed that he had not been approached by Independent Ireland to run as a candidate. He will be truly independent.

“I would rather be an independent,” he explained.

Cllr Warnock is particularly exercised by the housing crisis. He feels that affordable housing must be prioritised in Longford.

“There has been no private housing estate built in county Longford since 2009. The developments that are being built in Longford are social housing developments. However, for people who are over the threshold for social housing in terms of income, there is no affordable housing,” he stated.

“Low and middle income families need affordable housing. We need to get back to basics and build a vibrant town. People who are welfare dependent don’t have disposal income,” he added.

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He acknowledges that there is “huge frustration” in Longford over delays in getting developments such as the Camlin Quarter underway.

“Minister Darragh O’Brien came down here a few years ago and announced the Camlin Quarter project. Government funding of €10 million in principle was approved, with the council being required to come up with €4 million match funding,” he stated.

“This process has slowed down,” he added.

The councillor thinks that “up to €50 million” could be required to revitalise the part of the town that includes Connolly Barracks and Church Street.

Cllr Warnock feels that a general election could be called before the end of the year.

“After the budget in October would be a good time to call an election, in my opinion, particularly if it is a giveaway budget. I don’t see much sense in dragging an election into the new year,” he stated.

In a statement that Cllr Warnock posted on social media, he said that he was encouraged by people to consider a tilt at Dáil Eireann.

“Since announcing earlier in the year that I will not be contesting the Local Elections in June, I have been absolutely humbled by the support and well wishes that I have received from the wider community and the encouragement that I have been getting from so many people to perhaps consider a tilt at the Dáil.

“Having served the people of Longford at local level for the past 13 years, I do feel that it would be a natural progression for me should I wish to remain in politics.

“I feel that with my experience, my capacity for work and proven record to deliver for normal people and communities gives me the credibility to advance to the next level of politics,” Cllr Warnock wrote in his statement on social media.

“I will be dropping a series of posts over the next number of weeks and months, setting out my stall on a wide range of issues so you can get to know me and what I stand for,” he added in his statement.

Cllr Warnock’s entry into the election race will certainly make things interesting in county Longford, given his high profile in Longford town.