SF MLA Dougan to step down
A Sinn Féin Assembly member tonight became the second member of its Stormont team to step down after only serving one term.
Mid Ulster MLA Geraldine Dougan confirmed she would not be putting her name forward to the party’s selection convention for the constituency for the next Assembly election, scheduled for March.
She said her decision was taken purely on personal and family grounds.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed my team as an Assembly member, serving the people of Mid Ulster and particularly south Derry since my election in 2003,” she said.
“However, after much thought and discussions with family and friends I have decided that for purely personal and family reasons I will not be seeking a nomination from the local party to run in the Assembly election planned for March.
“I would wish to thank all of those people who have voted for me and supported me in the past.”
Ms Dougan’s decision mirrors that of Sinn Féin’s North Belfast Assembly member Kathy Stanton, who also announced she would step down after one term.
Ms Stanton also cited personal reasons and denied claims that it was because she was unhappy with the party’s moves to endorse the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).
Sinn Féin members also deselected two Assembly members in Newry and Armagh, Davy Hyland and Pat O’Rawe.
However, the party’s executive has yet to ratify the Newry and Armagh selection convention result.
Mr Hyland has warned he could run against the party as an independent and claims he was being punished for raising concerns about the party’s policing plans.
The party leadership was reported to be dismayed by the deselection of Ms O’Rawe.
Sinn Féin chief negotiator Martin McGuinness, the MP for Mid Ulster, thanked Ms Dougan for her work.
“I want to thank Geraldine for her contribution, particularly in south Derry,” he said.
“Sinn Féin’s focus will be to ensure that once again we return three MLAs in Mid Ulster.”
Ms Dougan got the third highest vote in Mid Ulster in the 2003 Assembly election, with 5,827 votes out of the 20,194 polled by her party.
Mr McGuinness and Assembly deputy speaker Francie Molloy were elected, with the DUP's William McCrea topping the poll and capturing a seat.
The Ulster Unionists' Billy Armstrong and the SDLP’s Patsy McGlone also won seats.
Sinn Féin fielded a fourth candidate, Cora Groogan, who attracted 984 votes but was not elected.
McCrea, who regained a Westminster seat in South Antrim in 2005’s general election, is expected to switch permanently to that constituency if next March’s election goes ahead.
Sinn Féin strategists believed they would hold on to their three Assembly seats, even if they secured the 17,828 votes they got in the local government elections or the 21,641 votes Martin McGuinness secured in the Westminster election.
They also believed the DUP, the Ulster Unionists and the SDLP would hold on to their seats.
