Deputy Tom Fleming.
IN what is an election bombshell for the Kerry constituency, sitting Independent TD for Kerry South, Tom Fleming, has announced he is pulling out of the race.
The ex-Fianna Fáil man made the decision based on the conclusion that he was lagging behind in the north Kerry constituency and had not canvassed there yet.
Deputy Feming was elected to the Dail in the 2011 General Election.
Having previously contested general elections in 2002 and 2007 for Fianna Fail, he left the party to run as an Independent when he failed to secure the FF nomination.
He also before having to give up the seat when he was elected to the Dail.
Fellow Kerry deputy Martin Ferris has paid tribute to Deputy Tom Fleming, who also served on Kerry County Council representing the Killarney area from 1985.
Speaking today Deputy Ferris said that he wanted to “pay tribute to a gentleman of the highest order who has worked diligently and honestly, not alone for his South Kerry constituency but for the entire County of Kerry. Tom is someone I have the highest respect for, not only in a professional capacity but in a personal one also. I had the pleasure of working with on both Kerry County Council and in the Dáil and was someone of the highest integrity who always put his constituents first. He will be a huge loss to politics in the county and I would like to wish him all the best in the future in whatever he turns his hand to next.”
