Outgoing Cllr Ted Fitzgerald receives commiserations from Fine Gael’s Pat McCarthy after Ted was eliminated from the election race on Sunday. Photo by Dermot Crean
FIANNA Fail’s Ted Fitzgerald has been eliminated from the Tralee Electoral Area count bringing an end to 40 years in local politics.
Cllr Fitzgerald was elected to Tralee UDC in 1974 and has been a great servant to the town serving both on town and county councils over the years.
The Clash politician was eliminated after on the eighth count with a total vote of 1,056. The nine votes he received from Jim Finucane’s surplus was not enough to save him.
Speaking after he failed to get elected, Cllr Fitzgerald was gracious and philosophical about the process.
“It’s always disappointing when you lose but I’m glad I stood for this election. It was well fought and I did my very best. My family and supporters helped me and I’m very grateful to them, I was just wasn’t good enough on the day and I wish all the candidates who get elected the very best,” he said.
“I given a fair bit of time over the last 40 years to the job. I’ve enjoyed the people I met and there was never any bad business between myself and the people I met through politics. I’ve no regrets,” he said.
Sadly it’s in the grounds of his beloved Mitchels club that he received the bad news.
“I’m very proud of the Mitchels. We have a fine arena here for the count and I’m sure we’ll have many more counts here in the years to come,” he said.
It now leaves five candidates left fighting for four seats.
Pat McCarthy of Fine Gael has 1,468 votes. He is followed by Thomas McEllistrim (FF) on 1,322, then comes Sam Locke (Ind) just one behind on 1,321, Graham Spring (lab) is next on 1,255 and Johnnie Wall (Ind) is on 1,158.
