Election 2023: DUP set for battle with ex-members in Causeway Coast and Glens Council

It will prove an interesting battle as the DUP go against former members to win back those two seats.

DUP newcomer Jordan Wallace, who will come up against James McCorkell in Limavady, commented: "The DUP is the only party with the numbers and strength to make real changes and if elected I will fight for all of the people of Limavady within council and the party to ensure Limavady is not forgotten about."

UUP candidate in Causeway, Barry Torrens, wants locals to be put first in Portrush and Portstewart.

He said: “If I am elected, everything I will push, debate, initiate or accept will be for the benefit of those who live here 365.“I welcome the visitors when they come, my priority is the permanent residents.”

Barry, who has been a member of the RAF and worked as a barrister, added: “I want to offer the electorate within the Causeway Coast and Glens quality, positive representation so that they can be assured issues they may have will be appropriately addressed.”

Also in the mix in Causeway is TUV candidate Allister Kyle who lives in Ballybogey, having been raised on a farm in Craigahulliar.

Allister believes the TUV vote has risen in the past year: "That would be for a multitude of reasons. One is the clear message Jim (Allister) has set out over the last year.

"People understand that TUV aren't trying to ride two horses. It’s a very clear stance that we’ve taken.

"I would also see on the doors that people are happy that there’s new blood so to speak, younger candidates maybe than some of the existing councillors are. People in Causeway Coast and Glens in general just want a bit of a change.”

PUP deputy leader Russell Watton is hoping to regain the seat in Coleraine that he has held for nine years.

“Social housing and the lack of it, is my primary concern and that of my constituents,” he commented.

He has pledged if re-elected to carry on with his work on the ground, particularly for the lowest paid and disadvantaged in society.

At the 2019 council election, the DUP won 14 of the 40 seats on Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council. Sinn Fein had nine, the Ulster Unionists seven, SDLP six, Alliance two and the remaining two seats went to PUP and Independent Ambrose Laverty who later resigned.

Full list of candidates in Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council:

Ballymoney

Caitlin Bond (SDLP),

Lee Kane (All),

Jonathan McAuley (TUV),

Tom McKeown (UUP),

Cathal McLaughlin (Ind),

Alan McLean (DUP),

Ciarán McQuillan (SF),

Leanne Peacock (SF),

Mervyn Storey (DUP),

Ivor Wallace (DUP),

Darryl Wilson (UUP)​

Bann

Ciarán Archibald (SF),

Ryan Barkley (SDLP),

Sean Bateson (SF),

Gemma Brolly (Aontú),

William Craig (TUV),

Richard Holmes (UUP),

Dawn Huggins (DUP),

Joe Hutchinson (Alliance),

Andrew Kerr (UUP),

Michelle Knight-McQuillan (DUP),

Jen McCahon (Green),

Adrian McQuillan (Ind)​

Benbradagh

Robert Carmichael (UUP),

Michael Coyle (SDLP),

Liam McElhinney (Aontú),

Sean McGlinchey (SF),

Kathleen McGurk (SF),

Niall Murphy (Ind),

Dermot Nicholl (SF),

Edgar Scott (DUP),

Christine Turner (All)​

Causeway

David Alexander (Ind),

Mark Coulson (Green),

Mark Fielding (DUP),

Sandra Hunter (UUP),

Allister Kyle (TUV),

John McAuley (DUP),

Peter McCully (All),

Sharon McKillop (DUP),

Angela Mulholland (Ind),

Paul Shevlin (SDLP),

Richard Stewart (All),

Emma Thompson (SF),

Barry Torrens (UUP)​

Coleraine

Philip Anderson (DUP),

Niamh Archibald (SF),

Yvonne Boyle (All),

George Duddy (Ind),

Helen Maher (SDLP),

Amy Louise Merron (PBP),

Tanya Stirling (DUP),

Michael Sweeney (TUV),

Adele Tomb (DUP),

Russell Watton (PUP),

John Wisener (UUP)​

Limavady

John Boyle (Aontú),

Steven Callaghan (DUP),

Aaron Callan (DUP),

Brenda Chivers (SF),

Barry Crawford (UUP),

Amy Mairs (All),

James McCorkell (Ind),

Ashleen Schenning (SDLP),

Billy Stewart (Ind),

Jordan Wallace (DUP)​

The Glens

Wesley Craig (UUP),

Bill Kennedy (DUP),

Margaret Anne McKillop (SDLP),

Oliver McMullan (SF),

Cara McShane (SF),

Glenise Morgan (All),

John Robbin (Aontú),

Maighréad Watson (SF)