Independent Marie says she may consider running again
To go from winning a County Council seat to attempting to gain one in the 32nd Dáil proved too much of an obstacle for Grange based school teacher Marie Casserly.
Councillor Casserly, who stood on Shane Ross’s Independent Alliance team, polled 2,726 first preference votes a very reasonable showing considering it was her first attempt at a national election. She went out after the eight count having amassed nearly 4,138 votes which was well ahead of some of the other candidates including more high profile ones such as Senator Susan O’Keeffe of the Labour Party.
While disappointed Cllr Casserly told The Sligo Champion she had put in a good campaign with a small team behind her.
“I did well. I’m not two years yet in politics so I have to be happy with over 2,700 first pref- erences. It’s a big commitment for someone to give you their number one. There’ll be other days. It was a huge constituency and as an independent you don’t have the finances behind you. It takes an awful lot of money to run these types of campaigns and the big parties are at an advantage that way.”
She made the point that Sligo/ Leitrim hasn’t elected a woman.
“It’s something I’m going to work on for the future. I’ll never say never abut running again. I still do feel there’s a need for that voice out there especially after travelling the constituency.”
And, councillor Casserly sees her future still as an independent candidate.
“I’m still happy on my own,” she says. “It’s a lot harder all right but you still have that flexibility and I’m happy with my independent status.”