Polling day has finally arrived for all the local and the European election candidates, full of hope and nerves – will you have done enough to convince the electorate in your patch to vote for you?
Has it been about shaking as many hands and knocking on as many doors as possible, has it been about distributing as many flyers and putting up as many posters as possible?
Has it been about working hard in your area on issues that you really believe in and ones that matter to people or has it been about grabbing issues you feel will tactically fly for you in the media and ones that will give you the right visibility?
Has it been about attending events, socials, sporting occasions and some funerals?
Has it been about getting those magic media moments, and performing convincingly when they come along and moving enough people to give you their precious votes?
Has it been about efficient PR, ensuring that the media get to know what you are doing and in turn reaching the people you want to convince?
Has it been about how well you connect with people online, not just over the last few months but over the long haul, is it about numbers of social media followers and your skill in using the platforms to show them who you are and what you are doing?
Has it been about the support of your party and how well you work with your other running mates who often are competitors?
Has it been about the skill and courage do deal with hurtful personal abuse when it comes along and to not let this derail you?
Has it been about intelligence and winning arguments or is it about being ‘nice’ and caring and winning hearts as well as minds?
Has it been about money and having the necessary resources to gain sufficient visibility even if this means some third party assistance and advertising?
Has it been about hard work and the careful execution of a strategy without any diversions?
Has it been about sacrifice, giving up precious personal time to the detriment of family and friends?
Has it been about having a great team to work with you, canvassing and supporting you along the way including family and friends who believe in you and who understand the sacrifice.
Whatever it is, today is the day when you are at the mercy of voters and you find out if what you did was enough to win the race.
Like them or loathe them we need politicians that we believe in at local, national and European level representing us and our needs.
In our democratic society we have the power to vote for our favoured candidates who have put themselves forward to do a job on our behalf using all of their skill, knowledge, influence, intelligence, empathy, conscience, energy, time and motivation to achieve what they believe Is important.
If we don’t like the selection of candidates then we need to do something about it..
A big thank you to each and every one of the candidates for stepping up to the plate and putting yourself forward for election – in truth it’s something most people would not do.
The very best of luck to all candidates and we hope that the worthy winners will execute their new roles with the same attributes and diligence that won their hard fought seats and that they do their utmost to stay true to their promises and do their very best for all of us and not just those who voted for them.
Well done for standing up and being counted ….literally!
Greg Canty
Greg is a partner of Fuzion, Marketing and PR who provide a wide range of services from offices in Cork and Dublin including helping some politicians along the way!
Greg Canty Fuzion Blog 