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BY ADRIAN MULLAN
IN a burst of political activity this week, 12 candidates nominated in West Tyrone to stand for election to the Assembly on March 7. Thirteen candidates nominated for Fermanagh South Tyrone, and 12 are also chasing six seats in Mid-Ulster.
Already the lampposts are starting to bloom with election posters and literature and the Western Area electoral office in Omagh's Kevlin Avenue was a hive of activity throughout Monday and until mid-afternoon on Tuesday as candidates and agents, chased by journalists and photographers, handed in their papers.
In the event, there were few surprises in the West Tyrone race. Although Omagh Town Cllr Johnny McLaughlin had hinted at nominating he decided not to do so. Joe O'Neill appeared for Republican Sinn Féin to find that he must stand as an independent because the party failed to register with the electoral authorities and, United Kingdom Unionist Party (UKUP) Bob McCartney nominated in West and Fermanagh South Tyrone, and four other constituencies.
Sinn Féin filed papers for three West Tyrone candidates, Pat Doherty, Barry McElduff, and Claire McGill. The SDLP nominated Josephine Deehan, Eugene McMenamin, and Seamus Shields. The UUP put forward just one candidate, Derek Hussey, while the DUP announced a second candidate, Allan Bresland, to join its out-going MLA Tom Buchanan. Kieran Deeny nominated again as an independent candidate.
Likewise there were few surprises in Fermanagh-South Tyrone, where Sinn Féin again nominated three, the SDLP two, the UUP two, DUP two, and Alliance, one.
In Mid-Ulster, an independent former hunger striker, Brendan McLaughlin, and a UK Unionist Walter Millar, nominated alongside the four main party's candidates and one Alliance candidate.
Despite the fact that the candidates are now up on the starting blocks, there is still no certainty that power will be devolved again by March 26, the deadline set for the restoration of the Assembly. A November deadline was passed but Northern Secretary Peter Hain is adamant that if there is no devolution by March 26, the Assembly will be permanently dissolved.
