Mary Butler has been chosen as Fianna Fáil's Waterford candidate for the next General Election.
The sitting TD had 225 votes in her favour to Councillor Eamon Quinlan's 108 at a selection convention in Dungarvan last night.
Deputy Butler told WLR News it was a clear result: "There are no coronations within the Fianna Fail party, you have to work hard for your position and I think I have proved that over the last two years. I'm just absolutely delighted that the members of Fianna Fail Waterford would put their faith in me to represent them in the next election."
She said it's uncertain whether the party can succeed with two candidates but that it's up to the party's National Constituencies Committee. You have to take the emotion out of it, you have to look at the figures nationally and here locally, and you have to see can you possibly gain a second seat. There's no point jeopardising the seat that you have. If Fianna Fail decide that there is a realistic chance of us winning a second seat I will work to the best of my ability with that candidate to secure a second seat for Waterford
Councillor Quinlan praised her "emphatic" win but said a city-based candidate is still needed for the party: "In recent years there's been thousands of votes statistically that stay within the City no matter what candidates are running. If Fianna Fail wants to expand, the city is the natural place for Fianna Fail to expand its appeal and its demographic and its vote share. So therefore, I'm sure myself and the other nominated candidates, as well as other Councillors, will be pushing the NCC hard, to see that Fianna Fail is seen to grow as a party and hopefully deliver on two candidates and then two seats in the upcoming general election."
Congrats @mary_butler_ on winning @fiannafailparty Convention #Waterford 👏 pic.twitter.com/qrqDJ3MLLN
— Eddie Mulligan (@MulliganEddie) March 10, 2018
