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10/12/2009
PR 'Guru' To Join Assembly
The SDLP last night selected Conall McDevitt to replace Carmel Hanna as an Assembly member for South Belfast.
Mr McDevitt will takeover from Mrs Hanna in the New Year after defeating city councillor Bernie Kelly at a selection convention.
Mr McDevitt, (pictured here), said: "It is an immense honour and privilege to be selected to represent the people of South Belfast."
The former SDLP Director of Communications paid tribute to Mrs Hanna, who was first elected to the Assembly in 1998.
"It will be a big job to fill her boots but I promise to work tirelessly to build on the strong foundations she has laid and to honour her work and her values by bringing the same dedication she has to the issues which challenge all of our lives."
Mr McDevitt, the current Northern Ireland Managing Director of Weber Shandwick PR, said people want politics to change.
"I don't want to become an MLA for the second nationalist party. I want to be an MLA for a renewed SDLP that will speak for the majority who want a new North."
Mrs Hanna offered her congratulations to both candidates.
"I have no doubt Conall McDevitt will be an excellent addition to a strong SDLP Assembly team.
"And I am sure the chance will come again for Bernie Kelly, who remains a strong representative for the party on Belfast City Council."
Meanwhile, the nationalist party has announced 36-year-old Dunloy teacher Justin McCamphill will contest the East Antrim parliamentary seat at the next Westminster elections.
McCamphill is a member of the SDLP executive and former Assistant Treasurer of the party.
He said: "I look forward to joining our team of hard-working and dedicated councillors and members in rebuilding this party throughout the constituency."
He said the people of East Antrim "deserve better than the triple-jobbing Sammy Wilson".
(PR/BMcc)
Mr McDevitt will takeover from Mrs Hanna in the New Year after defeating city councillor Bernie Kelly at a selection convention.
Mr McDevitt, (pictured here), said: "It is an immense honour and privilege to be selected to represent the people of South Belfast."
The former SDLP Director of Communications paid tribute to Mrs Hanna, who was first elected to the Assembly in 1998.
"It will be a big job to fill her boots but I promise to work tirelessly to build on the strong foundations she has laid and to honour her work and her values by bringing the same dedication she has to the issues which challenge all of our lives."
Mr McDevitt, the current Northern Ireland Managing Director of Weber Shandwick PR, said people want politics to change.
"I don't want to become an MLA for the second nationalist party. I want to be an MLA for a renewed SDLP that will speak for the majority who want a new North."
Mrs Hanna offered her congratulations to both candidates.
"I have no doubt Conall McDevitt will be an excellent addition to a strong SDLP Assembly team.
"And I am sure the chance will come again for Bernie Kelly, who remains a strong representative for the party on Belfast City Council."
Meanwhile, the nationalist party has announced 36-year-old Dunloy teacher Justin McCamphill will contest the East Antrim parliamentary seat at the next Westminster elections.
McCamphill is a member of the SDLP executive and former Assistant Treasurer of the party.
He said: "I look forward to joining our team of hard-working and dedicated councillors and members in rebuilding this party throughout the constituency."
He said the people of East Antrim "deserve better than the triple-jobbing Sammy Wilson".
(PR/BMcc)
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