Gerry McHugh has been out of politics for quite a while.

However since leaving Sinn Féin in 2008, Gerry has kept a close eye on all that goes on both locally and nationally and he believes that his experience will set him apart from other candidates as he re-emerges into the political world in the May 2 Council election.

Standing as one half of Aontú representatives in the Fermanagh and Omagh District, Gerry is hoping to take one of the seats up for grabs in Erne East.

A former Councillor in the old Fermanagh District Council, Gerry is hoping that the people of Erne East will want change on May 2 and vote for him.

“As a former Councillor in this area of Erne East I would know all the issues that are needed to be tackled in the area. And as someone who actually cares about people and knows the issues I have the experience to challenge on behalf of those people. I have proved that I have delivered in a lot of areas on local issues.”

Gerry has been out canvassing over the last number of weeks and while speaking to voters issues around local health services, Brexit and the lack of Government at Stormont.

“I have been knocking doors for the last few weeks and it is second nature to me chatting to people. There is nothing I like better than chatting to people about what is happening locally.

“One of the things they are pointing out is the whole business of Brexit and lack of assembly and no leadership locally. We have had direct rule now for three years. The loss of services that are so vital to communities have been lost because we don’t have that leadership locally.

“Council is about the local issues and I would be there to do fight for the local issues that voters care about such as cuts to services like Rosslea Health Surgery and plans for the Lisnaskea Health Centre.”

Gerry believes now is the time for a voice on the Council that has the experience to help fight for these local issues.

“I was a councillor in this area before and if those people want somebody who is experienced enough to do the job they should vote for me. They are certainly saying on the doors they want a change. People want to vote differently this time round and vote for somebody who will do something.

“I see the opportunity to be at least one Councillor here people can rely on.”

Gerry and fellow Aontú member, Rosemarie Shields are due to hand in their nomination papers in Omagh today (Thursday).

Other parties have been busy submitting nomination papers.

There was a flurry of activity at the Townhall in recent days as party and independent candidates submit the relevant papers.

On Tuesday Sinn Féin, SDLP, TUV along with Donal O’Cofaigh of Cross-Community Labour Alternative and Independent candidate John McCluskey handed in their papers.

Independent candidate Bernice Swift submitted her nomination papers on Monday while the Ulster Unionist Party and the Democratic Unionist Party handed their nominations in last week.