McHugh to run for FG — all eyes now on FF

By TONY GALVIN TUAM-based Cllr Tom McHugh is to be added to the Fine Gael general election ticket in Galway East in the next week. All eyes are now on the make-up of the Fianna Fail ticket and how many independents are to run.[private] The Christmas Eve announcement that the former PD leader, Senator Ciaran Cannon, is to be included on the Fine Gael ticket sent alarm bells ringing among Cllr McHugh's supporters. There were fears that Cannon's inclusion might have scuppered the Tuam councillor's hopes of being included but these now appear to have been groundless. Cllr McHugh's Co Council colleague, Cllr Sean Canney, is also expected to make his general election position clear in the coming week. He told The Herald on Tuesday that he had had discussions with his supporters and it was now down to him to make a personal decision on whether to run. Cllr Canney was part of the formidable team which backed independent Paddy McHugh in 2002 and got him elected to the Dail. Paddy McHugh secured 15.7 per cent of the first preference vote, with a tally of 7,786 on a quota of 9,884. In the 2007 election Tom McHugh ran for the first time and secured 8.75 per cent of the first preference vote with a tally of 4,881. His now running mate Ciaran Cannon, then a PD, secured 3,224 first preferences, 5.95 per cent. Speaking to The Herald on Tuesday Cllr McHugh said he was very optimistic but also realistic. He was the only candidate on the Fine Gael ticket who had run in the last election and had been working hard on the ground since then to build up his profile. McHugh and Cannon will be joining Paul Connaughton Jnr and Mayor of County Galway Cllr Jimmy McClearn on the four-candidate FG ticket. 'I'll be added to the ticket next week and I'll be focusing on the North Galway end of the constituency and I'll take it from there. The fact that the two sitting party TDs are retiring, Deputy Paul Connaughton Snr and Deputy Ulick Burke, gives me reason for optimism. However, I have to go before the electorate and they will decide who represent them. I can only do my best,' Cllr McHugh said. There is considerable disquiet in the Fine Gael Camp in Galway East over the inclusion of the former PD leader on the party ticket, with one party stalwart describing him as 'Enda's cookoo in the nest.' Senator Cannon joined Fine Gael following the dissolution of the PDs. It is generally accepted that party leader Enda Kenny promised him a place on the Galway East ticket when negoating his move to Fine Gael. It remains to be seen if Cannon can secure enough support from within the local FG organisation to mount an effective electioneering campaign. Speculation is still rife over whether one or both of the sitting Fianna Fail TDs in the constituency will follow their two FG counterparts into retirement before the general election. Deputies Micheal Kitt and Noel Treacy are understood to be standing but until they make a formal announcement either way, the speculation will continue with several prospective candidates keeping their powder dry until the field is named.[/private]