Smyth 'dissapointed' after losing council seat

Losing her seat on Westmeath County Council left Hazel Smyth disappointed that she could no longer see her “big ideas and projects” through.

The Green Party representative was eliminated after count seven in the Mullingar LEA after receiving 431 first preference votes, and her seat eventually went to Sinn Féin’s Julie McCourt.

It means Westmeath will have no representation from the Greens for at least another five years, as Louise Heavin also lost her seat in Athlone.

Ms Smyth told the Westmeath Examiner: “Disappointment was the main feeling I felt after the election, probably because I did work really, really hard for the four and a half years that I was there.

“I had a lot of big projects and ideas that I wanted to continue with, that I wanted to make happen, and it’s just a shame not to be able to realise those now.

“I also felt that a young female perspective adds value to the council chamber.”

The former district mayor said several things were against her in the build-up to elections.

“The fact that I went on maternity leave just before the election probably did somewhat maybe hamper my outcome, which is an awful pity,” she said.

"I also think there was the whole backlash against the Greens that really didn’t help either.

“I think there is a lot of misinformation and mistruths that are being put out there about the Green Party and their impact in government.”

Ms Smyth was also the victim of malicious rumours.

“I know of two stories that were put out about me that were completely false, coming up to the election,” she said.

“There was one about me ripping down posters in Drogheda, and afterward I was told that some people were saying I had been burning rubbish in my garden.

“Both are bizarrely untrue, and I think we are in a strange age of people finding it difficult to know what the truth is out there.”

Regardless of the election outcome, Ms Smyth plans to continue her environmental activism.

“It’s in my blood now, it’s in my heart, and it’s in my soul,” she said.

“Once you start to learn about the green movement and see what’s happening to the environment, and the potential impact on future generations, I don’t think you can forget about it.

“Your moral compass won’t allow you to walk away from it.”

Ms Smyth added that she hopes support for the Greens will return again and thanked all those who voted for her.