The announcement was made when Labour general election candidate Jim O’Brien was unanimously elected constituency chairman of the Laois/Offaly Labour party constituency AGM last Friday evening.

Mr O’Brien, from Rosenallis, promised to begin an immediate revitalisation of the party in the constituency in preparation for the 2009 local elections.

“It is our intention to have candidates standing in every electoral area in Laois and Offaly in 2009 with a view to delivering a strong Labour presence on the local authorities in the two counties.”

He believes there will be a high level of floating voters in the electoral mix come the local elections and it is up to the party to put strong candidates in place to attract those voters.

Speaking on the Labour party electoral strategy in Laois he confirmed his party will have a candidate in every electoral area in the county to contest the county council and the town councils.

“We have good people willing to run in all five electoral areas and over the next few weeks selection conventions will finalise the selection process.” Mr O’Brien also confirmed he will be putting his own name forward for selection in the Mountmellick electoral area.

Commenting on Labour local election policy Mr O’Brien said the focus will be on the basic issues such as community life, housing, roads, the environment, water and the local services that impact on the quality of the everyday lives of the people.

Labour’s sole public representative in Laois Cllr Laurence Kavanagh congratulated Mr O’Brien on his election and wished him well in what he said “will be a daunting task.”

Labour party stalwart Tom Phelan from Portlaoise told the meeting “If Jim O’Brien gives to the party even half of the energy he invested in the general election campaign then it bodes well for the future.”

Other officers elected from Laois at the meeting included Eoin Barry from Wolfhill and Mags Guijt Lawlor from Portarlington.

 

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