Perry doesn’t make the cut but comes in at third place

JOHN Perry may be out but he’s not down. The former Fine Gael Minister told The Sligo Champion that he was ‘delighted to get the highest number of first preference votes in the county’ at the Fine Gael Selection Convention last Thursday.

He got 135 first preference votes after Gerry Reynolds 241, but transfers later in the night did not go in his favour.

“Overall I’m very pleased myself. I’m delighted with the support. I really enjoyed the campaign and it was a privilege to get to meet friends on the ground again,” said John.

The crowded field of want-to-be candidates didn’t help Perry’s position as he says: “It was a close call but there were a lot of candidates in Sligo and there is always a risk then.”

He said that the convention last Thursday was very democratic: “This was a major achievement for Fine Gael to invoke proper structures for elections because I challenged the system. I was very pleased with how it was ran this year.” He wished the two chosen candidates ‘ the very best of luck.’

When questioned if this is the end of the road for John Perry where politics is concerned, he was quick to dismiss such a suggestion.

“A week is a long time in politics,” said John, “No election has been called yet.”