NEW Ulster Unionist MLA Alastair Patterson believes his party “has a very good chance” of securing two seats in the upcoming Assembly election.


Mr. Patterson was selected to replace Neil Somerville, who officially resigned on Tuesday, in a contest that saw two of the contenders dropping out hours before it started. Both Alan Burke, a former chief executive of Dungannon District Council and Ivor Paisley, who was formally a senior officer at Cookstown District Council, quit the race leaving just Basil Johnston, a former Fermanagh councillor, and Mr. Patterson vying for the top position on Friday night. 


In the end it was the 43 year old quantity surveyor from Castlederg and former DJ who was chosen by local party members and yesterday (Wednesday) Mr. Patterson travelled to Stormont with his wife Olga and mother May to officially sign in as the new Assembly Member for Fermanagh-south Tyrone.


In his first interview on Tuesday, Mr. Patterson told The Impartial Reporter that he has been “overwhelmed” by the response he has got and looks forward to the challenges of not just joining the Assembly but fighting the election in May.


“The reaction that I have got has been overwhelming. I am very humbled by the reaction of people, I am certainly looking forward to what lies ahead. Tom Elliott has always been one of those men who I have known for a long time; a great man in Fermanagh-south Tyrone and one of those men I aim to follow. There’s a change in politics in Northern Ireland and the Ulster Unionist Party is a party that sticks by its word and stands up for what is right,” he said.


He cites problems with flooding, infrastructure, education, health and red tape in business as issues he intends to raise at Stormont. 


“I come from a business background and one of the issues that I am very passionate about is public procurement. There needs to be processes put in place to make it simpler, that’s for sure. People out there want to bring investment into the area but they are being hampered by red tape. 


“Education is a massive issue and I know that certainly within Enniskillen town itself that education is an issue. To me, there is one major point, and that’s Sinn Fein and their policies in government. They have set out, I feel, to try and destroy the excellent education system that Northern Ireland has. I hope I get an opportunity to challenge that.

"The health situation within Northern Ireland is in a complete mess; the waiting lists are out of control. Money and resources need to be put in place. We don’t have proper cover of medical staff at weekends in South West Acute Hospital and that saddens me,” he said. 


Mr. Patterson lives in the West Tyrone constituency and while he represents a completely different one he is adamant that he can “relate to all the people.”
“I know the issues and problems in rural life. We lived a couple of miles from the Border. I know what rural life is like, I know the difficulties because of that. I hope the dark days are behind us and I will say this; they will not be forgotten.”


The Orangeman, a member of Garvetagh Lodge, stood in the Assembly election in 1998 for West Tyrone securing 2615 first preference votes. In the 2005 Council election, he was a candidate in the Mourne Ward for Strabane District Council polling 672 votes. 


In this May’s Assembly election, Mr. Patterson hopes to retain his seat, but believes his running mate, Councillor Rosemary Barton will win a second one for the Ulster Unionist Party.


“Going on from figures from previous elections, going by the revival of the Ulster Unionist Party, on the back of the excellent success of getting an Ulster Unionist MP elected in Fermanagh-south Tyrone, I would be looking forward to that challenge. I think if we give this our full effort that we as the Ulster Unionist Party have a very good chance of returning two Assembly members,” he said.


He describes DUP leader and fellow MLA Arlene Foster as “a formidable politician” and added: “She has taken on a new role, she has been elevated to the leader of the DUP, taking on the role as first minister, and I wish her well in that. But we still have the DUP, we still have the same policies, we still have them sitting in government with Sinn Fein.”


Mr. Patterson stated that he has always treated people with “respect and tolerance”.


“I respect everybody from whatever faith, background that they come from. That is one thing that is proven in my entire life so far. I want to reach out to people from all walks of life and I’ll ask them to judge me on what they see, what they hear and what they get,” he said. 


The former DJ used to be known as ‘Cool AP’ and treated music lovers to songs by The Vengaboys. The band is perhaps best known for its hit song ‘We Like To Party’ which includes the lyrics ‘The Vengabus is coming and everybody’s jumping.’


“Let me tell you, the party bus is coming and it’ll be carrying a couple of UUP candidates around Fermanagh-south Tyrone,” laughed Mr Patterson.