Conor Dowling-Linehan (Sinn Féin), Athlone

We sent a questionnaire to all 11 candidates running in the Athlone Electoral Area in the forthcoming Westmeath County Council election. The responses were published in print in the Westmeath Independent on Wednesday.

ADDRESS: Saint Columbas Terrace, Athlone.

PARTY: Sinn Féin

WHY ARE YOU RUNNING IN THIS ELECTION?

I grew up in Athlone in a decent working class family and learned very quickly how people needed to stand up for each other and help each other out in our communities.

There was always a feeling that nobody in power was advocating for us or making any significant changes for ordinary people.

I believe that this election has the potential to change the entire make-up of the council and radically change how politics works for people.

WHAT ARE THE TWO BIGGEST ISSUES IN YOUR AREA?

Housing is by far the biggest issue. It's absolutely heartbreaking to hear story after story of people struggling without a home or in unsuitable accommodation. Years of mismanagement and underfunding have left us in a crisis. We can reverse the trend, but we need new policies now.

The other huge issue is the struggle that businesses are currently undergoing to stay open. The costs of inflation and Covid are being felt with one in four commercial properties vacant. We need urgent action to stop this trend.

WHO DO YOU MOST ADMIRE AND WHY?

Personally, my parents and family for encouraging and teaching me as well as putting up with my various pursuits.

Politically, I have huge admiration for someone like Roger Casement who was a key part of the 1916 Rising but was also a human rights defender in Peru and the Congo before that.

TELL US SOMETHING PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU:

I have a massive passion for history and literature. If I wasn't involved in politics, I would have attempted to be a writer or a journalist.