New Independent candidate Topanga wants People Power
Topanga Bird might be new to Dundalk but she’s no stranger to the world of politics. A former journalist turned a social worker/ psychotherapist, she was actively involved in politics in the United Stages, canvassing for Chicago’s longest serving Major Richard M Daly and is now entering the fray herself having declared as candidate in next month’s general election.
Born and raised in Chicago of Irish parents, she says her first encounter with Dundalk was 30 years ago, when she enduring a nerve-wrecking border crossing while driving a rental car. ‘After having bayonets stuck in my face at the Border, I ended up in Dundalk and found it a wonderful welcoming place.’
She returned to visit over the years and when she moved to Ireland two years ago, she decided to settle here.
‘I love the place, the people. I’m here permanently.
‘For much of my career I was a journalist and then went into politics and community services. I worked on political campaigns including one for Richard M Daly, who was Chicago’s longest service major, before moving to Los Angelas.’
After working for another decade as a journalist in LA, she went back to college and did a Masters going to work as a social worker for what she describes as ‘ the LA version of Tulsa.’
Her experience has led to her setting out her views for Nua Eite or New Wing, which she describes as ‘an independent, egalitarian, ‘people-power’ political project advocating the decentralization and devolution of Irish government, and local control of all spheres of decision-making - political, economic, and socio-civic.’
She says that Nua Eite advocates the re-establishment of local town councils in every county and the promotion and establishment of neighbourhood councils and block clubs, giving these new and real powers to represent and legislate on the local level.
‘Nua Eite commits to the concept of ‘ living locally while acting globally’, she continues. ‘Nua Eite believes that economic and environmental sustainability comes through implementation of local initiatives and promotion of greater local consumption of local products, the linkage of local consumers with local producers and the creation of schemes of local and regional marketplaces for local and regional consumers.’
To date, she has used social media to set out her beliefs and says won’t be knocking on doors asking people for their votes, believing everyone deserves a right to privacy.
Referring to the rise of Donald
Trump, Victor Orban and Mario Salvini, and their like, in the political arena, and the anger of those parking their tractors at Kildare street and the creeping rise of sectarianism, whether it be based in location, occupation, race, religion or in the multiple other forms of societal division we hear being voiced,’ she says Nua Eite/ New Wing is focused on returning ‘power to the people’.
‘I hope the people of Co. Louth will honour me with their support as I move forward as its local representative and join in the effort to ‘ human-size’ government in all its sectors.’