Hogan returns to council

Athlone native Paul Hogan is returning to council chambers after emerging victorious following a co-option vote at the local authority monthly meeting yesterday, Monday, afternoon.

He took the vote by 12 to Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran’s six, to the fill the casual vacancy on Westmeath County Council, caused by the unexpected resignation of Jamie Moran.

The outgoing Cllr Jamie Moran had nominated his father, former minister, Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran, to fill the vacancy.

Typically, in a co-option situation where a member has resigned, a successor is nominated by the outgoing councillor and elected unopposed. However, from the outset it was clear there would be a contest in this case.

There was much debate and questions at yesterday’s meeting about what had changed from 2016, when Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran had to vacate his seat on election to the Dáil, and Ailish McManus was nominated in his place and came through unopposed.

Indeed, Labour’s Denis Leonard accused one party of a "power grab", an accusation refuted by Fianna Fáil’s John Shaw, who had earlier nominated Paul Hogan to fill the vacancy. It was seconded by his party colleague Cllr Aoife Davitt.

Mick Dollard, the only other independent representative on the local authority, nominated Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran to fill the vacancy, and this was seconded by Cllr Leonard.

A nomination put forward by Green party member Cllr Louise Heavin of Irena Cvetkovic, Athlone Community Radio manager, did not progress as it did not have the support of six members or the required paperwork.

In the end the vote was won by Paul Hogan 12 to 6, as the Fianna Fáil group went with him en-masse along with the two Greens, Cllrs Louise Heavin and Hazel Smyth, along with Fine Gael’s Andrew Duncan. Cllr Emily Wallace was the only abstention.

The council chief executive Pat Gallagher repeatedly told members that the process was governed by the Section 19 of the Local Government Act, 2001, as amended, and their own Standing Order 15, that is the council's own procedure.

For non-party candidates, this provides for the council filling the vacancy by anyone they deem suitable and eligible for the vacancy.

Following the vote, Paul Hogan said it was great to receive such “overwhelming support from across the board” and he said he was humbled and thankful for that.

He pledged to be an active team member on the council and a strong independent voice in the chamber on the issues that matter to the public.

In a media statement on Monday afternoon, Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran said that “long-standing co-option traditions and precedent were completely ignored” and that there was a “power grab for an independent seat by a government driven combination of Fianna Fáil/Greens”.

He thanked the members of Westmeath County Council who supported him on Monday and said: “I greatly appreciate the encouragement I received from the public when they learned of my intention to return to public life as a councillor. Unfortunately that door has been closed to me for now.

"In saying that, I want to wish Paul Hogan every success for the remainder of the council term. I remain willing as always to serve the people, as I have done so since I was first elected to public office in 1999.”