Gather support before run at elections, say local councillors
A More Inclusive Politics for Westmeath (part 4)
Cllr Hazel Smyth, mayor of the Municipal District of Mullingar Kinnegad, comes from a family of strong women, but not from a political background. She decided to run for election a month before polling day – “not advisable” she quipped. But she took to her heels and in four short weeks mustered enough support to get elected.
Cllr Smyth knew lots of women who would be marvellous in local or national government, but they were not running so she decided to see if she could do it. She admitted that she was filled with self doubt when she decided to run, and the biggest hurdles were telling her family and her employer, but both were supportive.
Cllr Aoife Davitt is the leas-cathaoirleach of Westmeath County Council and is from a political family, her brother Senator Aidan Davitt having preceded her into politics. She had a small child and a full-time job and she knew what was involved, but her former school friend and fellow hurler, now her fellow councillor, Emily Wallace, encouraged her to run and with the support of family and her workplace, she has managed.
Cllr Davitt admitted that it is daunting to “put yourself out there”, knowing you are going to be judged, but she did it anyway. Cllr Wallace’s family has always been involved in the community, but not in politics.
When Fine Gael asked her to run in the 2016 general election, she “didn’t jump at it”, but her mother encouraged her and she has no regrets. She was unsuccessful in the 2016 election, but was co-opted to the council when Peter Burke was elected to the Dáil and was re-elected in the 2019 local elections.
Her advice to would-be councillors is to make sure their supporters are registered to vote and “get yourself a good pair of shoes”.
Cllr Louise Heavin is a Green Party councillor from Athlone and an Architect by profession. She was horrified that there was no woman candidate for her to vote for in the 2015 elections and that propelled her to run in 2019.
When asked what could be done at national and local level to enable more women to get involved in politics, Cllr Heavin suggested that meetings could be held earlier to facilitate those with children and working hours for TDs could be more family friendly.
Cllrs Davitt and Wallace suggested a room in which children could wait and do their homework during meetings.
Although she does not have children, Cllr Smyth felt that a family friendly room, lactation room, changing facilities and mother and baby parking spaces could be provided.
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