Roche takes transition from local to national platform in his stride

A general election canvass is a different animal even for those who have fought local elections – because the issues on the doorstep have more to do with hedge funds than hedge trimming.

Fine Gael’s Pete Roche, who is seeking one of the three seats in Galway East, wasn’t too surprised that constituents weren’t really bothered about potholes or street lights. Instead, his Tuam town canvass saw him faced with issues relating to pensions, retirement, the cost of childcare and the lack of social housing.

This is a first foray into national politics for a man first elected onto Galway County Council in 2009. He increased that vote significantly in 2014 with 2,700 votes and was comfortably re-elected again for Fine Gael last May.

Dressed in his FG blue suit, he cut a swagger as he made his way, at considerable pace, through Tuam.

While he told potential voters that he was ‘struggling’, given the fact that he is being given an outside chance of ousting sitting TD Ciaran Cannon, he generally received a positive reception.

Indeed, one gentleman complimented him on the election hoarding that he had erected in Caherlistrane saying that he was very impressed by it and promised him his number one. Another woman said that her family always voted for him and they weren’t going to change now.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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