BY ADRIAN MULLAN
JUST OVER two years after he entered electoral politics, a Clady Sinn Fein Councillor has become the Chairman of Strabane District Council. Gerard Foley's election to the position of first citizen of the district was greeted with applause from party colleagues and cheers from well wishers, in the public gallery of the Council Chamber on Tuesday evening.
Former Ulster Unionist MLA, Derek Hussey, was appointed to the vice-chair at the same meeting.
The new chairman committed himself to hard work on behalf of all of the people of the district and expressed his immense pride at being elected to the post.
"It's a great honour to be elected as Chairman. This is the first time a Clady Councillor has ever held the chairmanship", said Cllr Foley as he took up his position.
After thanking colleagues and supporters he said he looked forward to the challenges that lay ahead in the coming year and made mention of 'golden opportunities' not least for cross-border development.
Speaking, after the formalities, the new Chairman said, "It's a big thing for Clady, I wouldn't have been in the position I'm in only for the people of Clady and the Glebe who came out and worked for me and voted for me."
He said that in the coming twelve months he will focus on economic issues and on bringing investment and work to the district.
"Now with Stormont having been set up I'll work to make sure that Strabane District gets it's fair slice of the cake.
"We'll get in there and battle away to bring as much as we can to the district."
SHAKE UP
He said he had no particular concerns about the Review of Public Administration shake-up that has parcelled Strabane and district in with Derry as a new administrative unit.
"You have to shout hard and shout loud for your own area and the people of Clady will shout just as hard as the people of Derry City."
It was suggested to him that he was a quiet person who was cast into the limelight, "You could say that I was a shy and quiet person but if you seen me out watching a bit of football there when the wee girl plays for Urney and for Tyrone under-14s, I'm far from shy and quiet. I can raise my voice when I have to."
Close friend of the new Chairman, and fellow Clady citizen, Joe Bogle, could barely contain his delight at the appointment of Mr Foley, "It's great to have a Clady man as Chairman of the council.
"It's great for the village and it's great for the area. We are always the village next door to a town. But Gerard's a very good worker and the people of the village really respect and like him.
"It's like Tyrone in the all-Ireland - until you win it it's not the same thing."
'I wouldn't have been in the position I'm in only for the people of Clady and the Glebe who came out and worked for me and voted for me.' - Gerard Foley
