Gareth Sharvin To Succeed Peter Craig In Council
6 February 2012 |
Posted by Jim Masson |
AN SDLP selection convention was held in Denvir’s Hotel (Sunday 4 February) in Downpatrick to select a replacement for the late SDLP Down District Councillor Peter Craig who passed away recently.
Downpatrick man Gareth Sharvin was elected unanimously for the co-option vacancy and was unopposed. He will take his seat in the Council on Monday 27 February.
Pictured at the election of Gareth Sharvin were, back row, Elizabeth Smith, Una Wallace, Patrick Green, Freda Sharvin, Roisin McGrath and Anne Ritchie, with front row, Councillors John Doris, Colin McGrath, Gareth Sharvin, South Down MP Margaret Ritchie, and Cllr Dermot Curran
Mr Sharvin (23), after graduating at Queen’s University in 2011, worked for a spell in the statistics section of the Department of Finance and Personnel and now works in the IT department at Bombardier Aerospace.
At the selection convention, Mr Sharvin said he hoped he would be able to make the late Cllr Craig proud and pledged himself to the service of his community.
In his acceptance speech, addressing the local members he said: “Peter Craig was a giant in Down District – the consummate public representative and a complete gentleman, and he leaves very big shoes to fill.
The Downpatrick SDLP Councillors team: from left, Cllr John Doris, Colin McGrath, Gareth Sharvin and Dermot Curran
“It will not matter how little an issue it is, people in the constituency can call me - I will listen. It will not matter where the issue is: tell me - I will be there. I am your councillor and I am here to work for you.
“Tonight I am proud and privileged to put my shoulder to the wheel so, for me, the hard work starts from this moment and work hard I most certainly shall.
“Tonight I stand in front of you, honoured and humbled to have been selected, to replace a man we all respected and cared for. It will be a tough challenge to match the contribution Peter gave to the people of Down District, but I will try my best, and hope to make him proud.”
He added: “Most of you know of me, but for those that do not, I have lived in Downpatrick all of my life. I graduated from Queen’s University, with an honours degree in Computing and Information Technology.
Gareth Sharvin pictured with his delighted family: father Seamus, sister Diane and mother Yvonne
“In my spare time, I make use of my memberships of both Downpatrick Golf Club and Downpatrick Racecourse. I also enjoy tennis, and squash and enjoy a good read. Added to this, I am passionate about the importance of special needs education.
“People have asked me why I put my name forward. It is because of one reason: I want to support the people in my community by ensuring their voice is heard locally at Council and through colleagues at Stormont and in Westminster.
“But it is an easy thing to say that here among friends tonight. I want the word to go out that, regardless of your natural party preference, I will work my hardest to represent you and your interests in and out of the Council chamber and prove to you that the SDLP is the party to unite communities and speak up for their needs.”
Gareth Sharvin stood in the last local Council elections for the SDLP as their youngest candidate in Down District and was part of the Downpatrick panel of councilors. He achieved 320 first preference votes on his first run in an election and the SDLP in Downpatrick took 57.4 per cent of the overall vote. The SDLP, which won the biggest slice of the vote with 34.2 per cent in Down District, has nine overall across Down District, the biggest party in Council.
“Putting my name forward was a big decision, but it was an easy one given my commitment to the people of Down District and also my commitment to helping improve the representation of SDLP throughout Northern Ireland,” he added.
“With the SDLP team in place I see a bright future for South Down and a bright future for the SDLP.
“The hard work continues day in, day out for the SDLP, but tonight I am proud and privileged to put my shoulder to the wheel…let us work together to make Down District a better place to live in.”
