UUP pair seek re-election as Brooks hits campaign trail for last time
COUNCILLOR Mark Brooks is aiming for one final term on Ards and North Down Council.
Mr Brooks announced his candidacy for the Bangor East and Donaghadee district this week, alongside fellow UUP man councillor David Chambers.
The Ulster Unionist pair are both seeking re-election – but Mr Brooks, who suffered a stroke two months ago, has revealed that this will be his last time on the campaign trail.
“For a final time, I am asking for the people to entrust their number one vote to me and keep Donaghadee at the top,” he said.
“Since I was first elected in 2014, I have always put Donaghadee first, I think that has been more than evident. Today I look at Donaghadee and see a revitalised town and place that is now a destination and the best place to live in Northern Ireland.
“All politics are local and throughout my term as a councillor I have promoted Donaghadee at every level, communicated directly with my constituents – not just at election time, a point I particularly want to remind everyone of.
“I have consistently on a daily basis been involved in community work in the town, fighting for our fair share of council investment. My priorities for my final term, if elected, include to ensure that the investment in local sports facilities is delivered by the council, and our precious green spaces and play parks are retained.”
The son of MLA Alan Chambers, this May marks the second time David Chambers faces a public poll.
If he keeps his seat, he promises to get to work ‘meeting the challenge of the cost of living crisis head on, protecting local businesses and ensuring that the Queen’s Parade project begins work as soon as possible’.
Pointing to his record on the council, he adds: “I have worked tirelessly throughout to help residents with issues and I am particularly pleased to have fought for the preservation of Groomsport Cottages.
“I have also worked to protect playparks from closure as well as promoting a new playpark for the Ashbury area, and fought for upgrades to children’s facilities and improvements in Linear Park. I will continue to protect all of our parks, green spaces and amenities.
“Our borough is a wonderful place to live and raise a family and, as a family man myself, I want to contribute to improving and cementing the borough as somewhere people want to live, visit and invest in.”