the independent canditate

It's not often that I get taken back. But for once I was. And strangely it was due to politics. As someone from Northern Ireland, politics is very important to me and at exactly the same time means very little to me. In this instance though it was a man from north wales who had the shocking effect on me. He is an independent candidate who was running for a counsellor position. He was running for the people, for their interests and for his community. He didn't give one damn about any of the major parties or what their agenda's were. He wouldn't fold to the majority in a far off constituency such as London. He would go along with any party and vote in whatever way he needed to so that his community was getting the best and the things that were most relevant to them.

It is just quite strange for me to see anything other than tribal politics, or majority politics. I don't think I've ever fully seen an independent candidate, well not one that was halfway sane and not standing for some ridiculous reason, or didn't have a multi-coloured goatee.

I thought it was quite refreshing to see someone wanting to fight for his own beliefs, being completely honest and doing what he thought was right for his community. If only everyone had some integrity like this, we wouldn't have corrupt governments, backhanders, expense rows, or communities suffering due to bad candidates, or people who will lie and say anything they can to get into power.

So i want to say thank you, to all of you who stand up for your community with truth and honour, to those of you who do what is right just for the fact it is right, I appreciate your effort, I applaud your morals, I envy your guile. So again thank you for restoring my belief in all things political.