Brid Smith to stand for Dublin Mayor

dublin | politics / elections | news report Saturday January 30, 2010 21:32 by Marcopolo

People Before Profit Alliance Councillor Brid Smith has announced her candidacy for the new directly elected post of Mayor of Dublin. The new post will represent all of Dublin City and County.

Smith is a long time activist and is a leader of the Socialist Workers Party, although she was elected to Dublin City Council for the Ballyfermot ward under the People Before Profit Alliance banner. As of yet her platform for the election has not been announced but it will include the following ideas:

1) Transforming Dublin into a "People's City".
2) Opposing Water Charges.
3) Reinstating the Bin Charges waiver.
4) Integrated public transport for the whole city.
5) Campaigning for jobs and houses.

The People Before Profit Alliance has announced that Brid is aiming at "constructing a large and broad based campaigning organisation that is determined to create an electoral shock and secure victory in this poll. Her aim is to build a broad campaign that stretches beyond her own organisation, People Before Profit, to embrace that many strands of opposition that are developing to our failed government." The PBPA did not seek an agreement with the independent left councillors in Dublin, with the Socialist Party or with Éirigí, which has a councillor Dublin City Council before making their announcement.

Smith is one of two People Before Profit Councillors on Dublin City Council, both representing wards in the Dublin South Central constituency. That constituency is one of People Before Proft's main targets in the next election. The seat of Sinn Fein's Aengus O'Snodaigh is regarded as vulnerable to a challenge from the left. A tilt at the Dublin Mayoralty will raise Smith's profile considerably.