Further new candidates jump on board for Navan and East Meath

A NEW Independent local election candidate who describes himself as a 'young, energetic and enthusiastic man absolutely disillusioned with our current political representation in Meath' has emerged in the East Meath area. The kaleidoscope of local election candidates in the area continues to be added to with Seamus O"Neill, partner of the high profile Fianna Fail national executive member, Sharon Keoghan, opting also to run as an independent in the Slane Electoral Area. It is getting to be a crowded race with former PD Sirena Campbell joining the Fine Gael party in east Meath for the election. In the Navan electoral area, a former Monaghan councillor, Suzanne Jamal, has joined the Fine Gael ticket. James Carey (27) of Stamullen says he decided to enter politics because it is something that he holds a fiery passion towards. 'And I feel that our area of County Meath is both ridiculously under represented and forgotten when it comes to public services and infrastructural funding.' Son of Seamus and Doreen Carey (nee Lacey), the family lived at Main Street, Duleek, until he was eight years old, after which time they moved to Llandudno in North Wales. Mr Carey studied computer science and artificial intelligence at the University of Sussex, Brighton, East Sussex until 2006 where he won two elections for the Students" Union commercial services treasury position. 'I led a painful reform which utterly reconstructed the workings of the union. These reforms, I understand, still hold strong today, years after my departure,' he says. 'Here at home, members of my community have told me that I have done more for this community as a county council candidate than any councillor has done in their five years in office. 'I find comments like this heart-warming as recognition for persistence and determination and is always pleasant to receive. Our Garda presence has skyrocketed since I launched our community alert initiative with Superintendent Cannon and Sgt Dooley. Patrol cars are now in our area five times daily as oppose to monthly. 'My vision for our community is one of tolerance, respect, progress and to rekindle our community spirit. Many displaced individuals have moved here from Dublin and I wish to reach a welcoming arm out to them, warmly including them into an old, historic and mighty group of East Meath communities.' Duleek publican and undertaker, Seamus O"Neill, has signalled his intention of running for the county council elections in the Duleek area. The 44 year-old businessman said he had lived in Duleek all his life and he believed local business people needed to be involved in the council. 'A lot of things need rectifying. Local politics isn"t working at the moment,' he said. 'I have a good crew behind me and I"m looking forward to giving it my best shot.' Mr O"Neill said he would have an office on main street which would open on Mondays and Saturdays for clinics and the highly experienced Mary Gargan will run the office for him. Mr O"Neill"s partner, Sharon Keoghan is a well known Fianna Fail activist, but Mr O"Neill has chosen to run as an independent. Ms Keoghan is understood to have been hopeful of getting onto the Fianna Fail ticket herself for this year"s elections, but was unsuccessful. Meanwhile, Fine Gael general secretary, Tom Curran, has announced that Suzanne Jamal (née Leonard), Flemington, Balrath, Navan, has been added to the party ticket to contest the local elections to Meath County Council in the Navan Electoral Area. Ms Jamal is also a candidate for Navan Town Council. She joins outgoing councillors, Cllr John Duffy, Cllr James Holloway and Cllr Patsy O"Neill. The announcement comes after party activist Francis Deane confirmed he was running as an independent. A mother of four and businesswoman, she is married to Dr Ahmad Jamal, a senior emergency medicine physician at Our Lady"s Hospital, Navan, and runs a home accessories business at Balrath. She intends to campaign for improvement of services and retention of jobs at Our Lady"s Hospital, Navan, and continue the work done by her Fine Gael colleagues in securing the location of North East Regional Hospital in Navan. Public health concerns surrounding the Knockharley Landfill will also be high on her campaign agenda. Suzanne and Ahmad Jamal founded the Leonard-Jamal Relief Fund following the Pakistan earthquake in 2005. The fund provided initial relief efforts, and, in 2006, built a primary school in Kashmir. The Irish Public School school is completely funded and run by their charity and educates 80 children who would otherwise be deprived primary schooling. The fund has so far raised in excess of €200,000. Ms Jamal (38) comes from a strong political dynasty. Both she and her father, Jim, have served as Fine Gael members of Ballybay Town Council in Co Monaghan. She and her family have lived at Balrath for almost 10 years. She previously worked as a medical administrator at Monaghan General Hospital and Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown. During Ms Jamal"s tenure on Ballybay Town Council in the late 1990s, her work to ensure the welfare of the elderly was highly commended. She was also an effective campaigner for increased employment opportunities in the area.