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The Alliance Party is running 8 candidates in the Newry, Mourne and Down District Council local council election with one running in each District Electoral Area (DEA) except for Rowallane, where the party is targeting 2 seats after Patrick Brown topped the poll there in 2019 with 1416 first preference votes.
Newry candidate Helena Young, who has put her name forward is hoping to win the party’s first seat in the area for almost 50 years. Young said "It is time for change in Newry, Mourne and Down, and Alliance is the best option for voters hoping to challenge the established status quo. In 2019, Alliance was just 41 votes short of a seat in the Newry. With the Alliance surge still going strong, we have a fantastic opportunity to increase our representation in local government and elect Alliance councillors in every area."
Crotlieve candidate Daniel Neary, who is a solicitor by trade and long-time party activist living in Rostrevor, said: "Across the District the Alliance Party has built a reputation for challenging council management and the establishment parties of the area. When it comes to challenging reckless capital projects or pushing for greater openness and transparency, Alliance will continue to deliver for ratepayers and hold those in power to account."
Patrick Brown MLA, who is the campaign manager for all Newry, Mourne and Down candidates, added: "I am proud to endorse every one of our fantastic Alliance council candidates. From Crossmaglen to Crossgar, and Killyleagh to Killeavy, more people than ever are endorsing our progressive, cross-community message. People are fed up with the stop start politics of division at Stormont and are voting Alliance to send a message to the DUP that Northern Ireland deserves politicians who will actually do their job. And many in the local area are increasingly moving to Alliance due to the failures of Sinn Fein, and the constant political cover they provide for an intransigent and out of touch council management."
All the candidates are optimistic about Alliance’s chances for growth in the area in the May 18 election.
