Ray Butler (Fine Gael)

Ray Butler was first elected to Trim Town Council in 2004. He was elected to Meath County Council in 2009 having polled the highest percentage vote of all county councillors in Meath. A native of Kells and a trader by profession, he says he understands the difficulties faced by small businesses, particularly the tourist industry which has been hard hit by falling visitor numbers and poor consumer confidence. He says he would like to see FG's New Era policy implemented nationally and a jobs strategy for Meath developed which would provide opportunities for the 12,000 unemployed people in the county. Married with four children, Cllr Butler has chaired the Celtic Festival Committee and the St Patrick's Day Parade Committee in Trim and is a former chairman of Trim Town Council. He recently opened a Fine Gael Trim Constituency Office which he operates in conjunction with TD, Damien English. He describes himself as a dedicated public representative who feels that Trim and the south Meath Area need representation in Dáil Eireann. He is also conscious that the people in the Coole District of Westmeath have been under-represented in the past and says he will strive to ensure their issues are brought to the fore.