Democrat Editorial: The People have spoken!

Thirty-seven councillors in Donegal will now represent the interests of 167,084 people, after the 2024 Donegal County Council elections.
That also works out at one councillor for 4,516 people.
Just three or 8.1% of the elected councillors are female in a population where more than 50% are females. This represents the same number of representatives as in 2019, with 17 of the 91 candidates this time around being female.
The 2024 result also saw the election of Donegal’s first openly gay councillor, in the Milford LEA.
The election of new councillors representing the 100% Redress Party in four local electoral areas will most certainly consolidate and laser focus on the defective concrete blocks, mica and pyrite scandal and they constitute a new block of four councillors.
Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin have 10 seats each, the Independents are on nine, with the rearguard of three Fine Gael councillors and one Labour Party councillor.
It is clear that the next five years will be extremely important for this county, as it navigates its way towards the end of the third decade of the 21st century.
And when that first preference vote is further analysed, a massive 42% of the electorate voted for either Independent candidates or the 100% Redress party, with Fianna Fáil on 23%, Sinn Féin on 22%, Fine Gael on 11% and the Labour Party on 2%.
We wish them all the best, as they are tasked to represent their constituents to the best of their abilities, in what we hope will be a constructive, courteous and dignified manner, notwithstanding the invariable disagreements.
With a basic salary of €28,145, which is taxable and an additional yearly allowance of €3,162.36, this is augmented for those that will hold roles of cathaoirleach and leas cathaoirleach, inclusive of the five municipal districts and chairs of various county council committees, the modern world expects much more that the councillor of yore.
And that’s without a hero’s cape or magic wand .