Clarke Says Salary To Be Donated To SVP If Elected at Banbridge Civic Centre.
South Down Independent candidate Patrick Clarke (LL.B officially lodged his Assembly election nomination papers on Wednesday 6th April at Banbridge Civic Centre.
He met with Electoral Office officials in Banbridge and is now officially an Assembly election candidate running in the South Down constituency.
He previously has contested both the 2011 and 2014 local government elections and the previous 2017 NI Assembly Election.
Patrick Clarke said: “There are many disillusioned voters across South Down and other constituencies who currently want change from the old tribal rhetoric by certain political parties.
“I strongly believe there needs to be an Independent voice for the most vulnerable people within South Down particularly those most badly affected following welfare reform cutbacks within the social security benefits system. If elected as an MLA to Stormont, I intend to be to be an effective legislator particularly on welfare issues.”
Patrick Clarke has also made a firm public commitment to voters that if elected he will not take the current MLA salary but instead donate to Saint Vincent Dé Paul.
He added: “People know me as an extremely committed person and capable politician who will be totally dedicated to helping the most vulnerable in our society to ensure that I can actually make a tangible contribution in people’s daily and personal lives on the real local and regional issues that actually matter to voters.
“By being an Independent candidate at the Assembly election, I want to represent those who have no Independent voice as there are many people of all ages and backgrounds living right across South Down who wish politics to change.”
BETTER INFRASTRUCUTRE AND INVESTMENT NEEDED
Patrick Clarke added:xa0“There needs to be more inward investment in the infrastructure of South Down particularly within areas such as the manufacturing industry which has one of the lowest percentage rates of foreign and direct inward investment partly due to the current lack of proper road infrastructure and largely because INVEST NI do not see South Down as a key strategic investment area.
“We already have one of the busiest ports in Ireland at Warrenpoint harbour which has already witnessed record volumes of trade increasing at the growing Warrenpoint Port.
“With the much anticipated hope of Narrow Water Bridge being constructed between County Down and County Lough would certainly also help attract further financial inward investment as well as other economic benefits to promote our growing tourism sector in South Down.
“As axa0 former Newry Mourne and Down District Councillor, I had been a tireless worker often dedicating very long hours, virtually seven days a week for over five years representing many people on a very wide range of both Council and other constituency matters outside the remit of the powers of Council.
“Irrespective of the gravity of any of the constituent problems which I was contacted about, I always tried to do the very best of my personal ability to ensure I could do whatever was humanly possible within my political power to effectively and diligently represent all those people who really needed my help.
“I look forward to fighting and working for the betterment for all the people of South Down and also not taking but instead giving the MLA salary to charity (the SVP).”
 has officially lodged his Assembly election nomination papers on Wednesday 6th April){kind=link}