Former students" union head to run for council

A former head of Dublin Institute of Technology"s Students Union, Marguerite Fitzpatrick, has been selected by Fianna Fail as a candidate in the Navan Town Council and Meath County Council areas in June"s local elections. The Navan native is a personal assistant to Dublin Dail deputy Cyprian Brady and previously ran in the local elections in Dublin North, and said she is delighted at having been selected to run in her home county. 'I understand that many people have grown cynical about politics recently and feel disconnected from their local representatives,' she said. 'As a young, new candidate, very involved in the community, I feel that I can bridge that gap and restore confidence in the electoral process.' Ms Fitzpatrick, daughter of Gerry and Josie Fitzpatrick, said that politics is about helping people and representing their views. 'I believe that most people have modest expectations - they want to have a good job, own their own home, take care of their families and take the occasional holiday,' she said. 'These are reasonable expectations and as a councillor I would work to make these expectations achievable. 'Working for a TD, I have learned an invaluable amount about our political system, how it works and how to get things done. I enjoy helping people with their queries on a daily basis and trying to get things done for them.' Ms Fitzpatrick says that for the past two years she has been a voluntary adult literacy tutor with Meath VEC. 'I have found it to be most rewarding and enjoyable and it has proven to be a great way to give something back. I am also a member of the management committee of Le Cheile Childcare Centre in Simonstown and have learned a lot from the experience to date.' The FF candidate said she looks forward to working with colleagues Cllr Shane Cassells, Cllr Padraig Fitzsimons, Cllr James Mangan and Cllr Tommy Reilly to provide the best possible service to the people of Navan.