Midlands Councillor and food poverty activist to step away from local politics

The wife of Independent Councillor and food poverty campaigner, Ken Smollen, is to be nominated for his seat on Offaly County Council at the September meeting on Monday next, after he announced his resignation due to ill health.

Sandy Feehan-Smollen will be proposed and seconded by Cllrs Sean O'Brien and Clare Claffey to fill the seat left vacant by the resignation of her husband, Ken, who was first elected to the local authority in 2019.

|n a lengthy Facebook post on Friday last, Cllr Smollen said he had made the "difficult decision" to resign his seat because he did not wish to leave work undone following his diagnosis with lung cancer in May of this year.

While the diagnosis came as "a huge shock" to the popular public representative and his family, he said he had learned over the last few months that if he is to have "a reasonable chance of recovery" he needs to slow down. "That includes staying away from the phone, internet and from meetings" he added.

Cllr Smollen, who has become widely known across the Midlands as a campaigner against food poverty through his work with the Ken Smollen Food Appeal charity, said he derived "great personal satisfaction" from helping others, but he now realises that in order to recover "I must listen to those who know better and take a back seat for now."

While incapacitated, the local Independent Cllr said he did not want to "leave work undone" so he made "the difficult decision" to resign his seat and said he would be making a request to the September meeting of Offaly County Council that the person he feels would be "most qualified and able" to continue his work should replace him on the council. "I have absolutely no hesitation in saying that I know my wife Sandy Feehan-Smollen will do a terrific job" he added.

Cllr Smollen ended his post by thanking everyone for their "tremendous support" over the years" and signalled his intention to return to local politics "as soon as the good man above and YOU, the people of this area allows me to as we must continue to PUT PEOPLE FIRST, ALWAYS!"

The Facebook post attracted well wishes from hundreds of Cllr Smollen's supporters, with many commending him on his brave decision to step away from local politics and from his charity work in order to prioritise his own health.

The full text of Cllr Smollen's Facebook post is as follows:

Major changes that I need to make to ensure we continue to PUT PEOPLE FIRST, ALWAYS, especially the people of the Tullamore Municipal District who trusted me with their vote at the last Local Elections…

Being told last May that I have lung cancer was a huge shock to me and also to my family. For me personally I know that I’m still in shock at having received what to most people would be a frightening diagnosis.

I have learned over the last few months that if I’m to have a reasonable chance of recovery I simply have to slow down and that includes staying away from the phone, internet and from meetings. A complete break from everything is what has been ordered by the medical professionals. I have to push everything else to the back of my mind in order to help my body have the best chance during my medical treatment.

Whilst trying to deal with the problems and issues that affect the people living in this area is something I have always enjoyed doing, I have received great personal satisfaction when being successful in helping to resolve the many problems that people asked for my assistance with. Since being elected as a County Councillor in May 2019 I’m proud of the work I have achieved in many areas of Tullamore Municipal District. However, I now realise that in order to recover from this serious medical condition I must listen to those who know better and take a back seat for now.

While incapacitated, I do not want to leave any work undone and have taken the difficult decision to resign my position as an Offaly County Councillor. At the September meeting of Offaly Co Council I will be requesting that the person I feel would be most qualified and able to continue my work should replace me as one of your County Councillors. I have absolutely no hesitation in saying that I know my wife Sandy Feehan-Smollen will do a terrific job. She has a huge amount of experience as a member of a number of committees and groups both in Tullamore and in Clara for many years. I have always envied her enthusiasm and drive, especially at committee meetings where she always ensured that problems or issues at hand were resolved before the meeting ended, with a “no-nonsense” and common sense approach, no matter how long it took…

Since my election in 2019 Sandy has always stayed in the background and offered advice when it was most needed and it was always geared to keep me on the right path but the main fact is that she has always stood right beside me and for her invaluable help during that time I am extremely grateful – so who better to replace me as a new Offaly County Councillor? – and when the time is right I will look forward to assisting her in her role!

Cllrs. Sean O’Brien and Clare Claffey have agreed to Propose and Second her nomination at the Offaly Co Council meeting on 18th September next.

Finally, as always, thanks very much to all of you for your tremendous support during the last few years. It is certainly my intention to return to local politics as soon as the good man above and YOU, the people of this area allows me to as we must continue to PUT PEOPLE FIRST, ALWAYS!