John Dolan (Fine Gael), Athlone

We sent a questionnaire to all 11 candidates running in the Athlone Electoral Area in the forthcoming Westmeath County Council election. The responses were published in print in the Westmeath Independent on Wednesday.

ADDRESS: Kilgarvan, Fardrum, Athlone.

PARTY: Fine Gael

SPECIAL AREAS OF INTEREST:

Farming. Agriculture and rural development. Tidy Towns. Helping communities. Business promotion. Promoting the availability of defibrillators.

WHY ARE YOU RUNNING IN THIS ELECTION?

I am running because I feel that I am making, and can in the future continue to make, a positive difference in people's lives. I hope that, as an ordinary person, I can represent the issues that affect ordinary people's lives and make decisions accordingly.

WHAT ARE THE TWO BIGGEST ISSUES IN YOUR AREA?

Housing, and supporting rural and urban businesses.

WHO DO YOU MOST ADMIRE AND WHY?

Mairead McGuiness, because she has always excelled in whatever she was doing, from her RTÉ career to becoming an MEP, to being Vice President of The European Parliament, and now as a Commissioner. She never forgot where she came from, and always makes a point of engaging with everyone.

TELL US SOMETHING PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU:

I was an only child and born in Coosan.