Marie Reddin to contest elections as independent

Chairwoman of the Ashdale/Woodlands Grove Residents" Association Marie Reddin, who is well known throughout the town for her involvement in many community organisations, has this week declared her intention to contest the Athlone Town Council election in June as an independent candidate. Marie told the Westmeath Independent this week she had made her decision to run as an independent candidate after a number of people in the community had urged her to go forward for election. 'A lot of people in the community have been after me for a while to go for it, I think it"s because I"m a plain speaker,' she said. She explained that if she was elected on June 5 she would have community interests at heart and would like to do something to tackle anti-social behaviour. Speaking from her Ashdale home this week, Marie said she would like to see old-fashioned community spirit revived in areas in the town and said she believed this might help to minimise anti-social behaviour in Athlone. She said she would like to represent the community, particularly local authority housing estates, but would not turn anyone away who required her help. Marie added that she felt Athlone Town Council needed independent councillors to strike a balance, and said female councillors were needed on the council. 'I"m all for woman power, we need to redress that imbalance,' she said, adding that it was nearly all women who came to the community meetings she attended. As well as being the chairwoman of the residents" association, she is involved with RAPID, the community forum, the Tidy Towns committee, AIRE, a new support group for families of those suffering from addiction, and the Athlone Community Services Council. Speaking about her involvement with so many groups, Marie said this week: 'When you"re out and about you get to meet people and network and you see and hear about what"s happening in their estates.' Marie feels there is great potential for estates in the town to get together on community initiatives, an example of such, which she is currently working on, being a town bonfire to celebrate Hallowe"en each year. Marie explained that a number of community groups have come together in a bid to organise one bonfire for the town for this Hallowe"en. They are speaking to someone in Longford who has organised a similar event there. 'It could become a festival and you could get the kids involved in having a fancy dress and even, if properly organised, fireworks,' she said. This is just one example of reviving community spirit, according the Marie, who is approaching June"s elections with an open mind. While she doesn"t expect it to be easy, she said she will remain positive about her prospects. Originally from Assumption Road in Athlone, Marie has a nursing background and lived in in England for some 20 years. She has a 24-year-old daughter Sarah and has lived in Ashdale for eleven years. Marie works as an information officer in the Dr Steven"s Centre.