The Alliance Party has selected two further candidates for the upcoming Lisburn City Council elections due to be held in May following on from Jennifer Coulter’s selection for Downshire last month.
Local members selected Aaron McIntyre and Stephen Martin to run in Dunmurry Cross and Lisburn Town South respectively. Stephen Martin is seeking to step into the shoes of Alderman Seamus Close, a former Lagan Valley Assembly member and Deputy Leader of the Party, who has served the people of Lisburn in numerous civic roles since 1973.
Alliance Dunmurry Cross candidate Aaron McIntyre states: “I am very proud to be selected as the Alliance candidate for Dunmurry Cross. I am determined to continue to work hard on the ground in Dunmurry to offer a real alternative to the regressive politics of the past, towards a shared future.”
Alliance Lisburn Town South candidate Stephen Martin stated: “Seamus Close is a giant of Lisburn and Northern Irish politics. A fearless champion of the ratepayer, Seamus was never behind the door in voicing his views and actively representing the people of Lisburn South for nearly forty years. Seamus’ contribution to the civic life of Lisburn can not be put into words. Both Seamus and his wife Deidre are owed a huge debt of thanks for their hard work and long record of service to our community. To step forward to fill Seamus’ shoes is a big task but one that I am keen to fulfil.”
“I very much will stand up for Lisburn South in making sure that Council services are delivered to help grow and sustain the economy of our city, and to translate that growth into more prosperous lives for our whole community. Times are tough and we are not through all there is to go through just yet. My priority will be to ensure that Lisburn is positioned to take advantage of any opportunity that comes our way and take up Seamus’ mantle in making sure that ratepayers’ hard earned money is not wasted. If local families have to watch their pennies, so should local government. Councils have major decisions to make over the last four years. Voters are disillusioned with all forms of politics. As a newcomer, I want to be play my part in shaping those decisions for the benefit of Lisburn.”
Trevor Lunn MLA added: “In Aaron and Stephen we have two exceptionally able candidates for Council and two prime examples of the young talent that the Alliance Party will be offering the electorate in the forthcoming elections. I also want to take this opportunity to pay tribute to both Betty Campbell and Seamus Close. They have both given years of dedicated service to the people of Lisburn and I want to thank them for their hard work. “
ENDS
Profiles of Candidates
Aaron McIntyre is a Queen’s University student currently reading archaeology. Aaron is also Vice Chair of Lagan Valley Alliance and has represented both Lisburn and Northern Ireland in Norway and Germany through the European Union’s Comenius Project. Active in opposition to the draft Public Assemblies Bill, Aaron has a keen interest in civil liberties and young peoples’ issues.
Stephen Martin was educated at Harmony Hill Primary School, Wallace High School and Queen’s University Belfast where he sat on Senate as a elected student representative. A Solicitor by profession practicing in Lisburn, Stephen also assists Trevor Lunn MLA in dealing with constituency casework. Stephen is currently Chair of Lagan Valley Alliance, a long time member of Party Executive and the Party’s Policy convenor, with member responsibility for manifesto development. In his spare time, Stephen is a youth leader and school governor.