Polltopping Limerick councillor enters race to become directly elected mayor
Cllr Frankie Daly is latest candidate on ballot paper
INDEPENDENT councillor Frankie Daly has become the latest candidate to declare in the race to become Limerick's first directly elected mayor.
Cllr Daly, a youth worker by profession, joins 12 other entries into the maiden election for the prestigious new post.
In a video, posted to his social media accounts on Sunday night, the Corbally man pledged, if returned, he will be a "real voice in national government" for Limerick.
"I've been asking people what are the attributes they would like to see in their mayor. For me, it's very clear. They want a mayor that delivers, one who makes a difference in their daily lives, decisive action, integrity, dedication and experience. I have those qualities," he said.
First elected as a Labour member to Limerick City North at the 2014 local election, Cllr Daly left the party two years later and has sat as an Independent since.
In 2019, he topped the poll in the City North with a huge 1,861 first preference votes, smashing through the quota with more than 350 votes to spare.
The following year, he contested the general election in Limerick City, where he narrowly missed out on the final seat to the Green Party TD Brian Leddin - who himself is also running for the mayoralty.
Cllr Daly is married to Kate and they have two children, Josh and Jada-Faye.
He becomes the third Independent candidate in the election, joining businesswoman Helen O'Donnell and the former secretary general at the Department of Finance John Moran.
In the last week, Fine Gael councillor Daniel Butler and Labour's Conor Sheehan have declared.
Also on the ticket are People Before Profit's Ruairi Fahy, former Chamber chief executive Dee Ryan for Fianna Fail, Social Democrats Cllr Elisa O’Donovan, Dr Laura Keyes, Rabharta, Sarah Beasley of Aontu, Sinn Fein TD Maurice Quinlivan and Gerben Uunk of the Animal Welfare Party.
Limerick will go to the polls to elect an executive mayor on June 7.