Forsythe selected for DUP in South Down

Forsythe selected for DUP in South Down

23 March 2022

THE DUP has formally selected its local Assembly election candidates to contest the May election.

Diane Forsythe will be the party’s standard bearer in South Down, while Crossgar’s Harry Harvey is one of three runners in Strangford where he is joined by Michelle McIlveen and Peter Weir.

Earlier this year, Mrs Forsythe was chosen ahead of sitting MLA Jim Wells to contest the South Down seat and is looking forward to the election.

“I am delighted to have been selected to contest the Assembly election in South Down for the DUP,” she said.

“It is an honour and privilege to have the opportunity to represent this area where I live.

“We are a thriving, vibrant area which I want to do my best to enhance and grow. We have so many opportunities across our industries, fishing, farming, manufacturing and many more.

I want to work for everyone to secure improved investment in all of these sectors to boost this area and make us a central tourist attraction for the country.”

Mrs Forsythe said she wanted to help everyone in the constituency “where many are struggling and need support to access services”. 

She continued: “Our healthcare, roads infrastructure and support for working families in the squeezed middle of society need improvement. I want to be their voice in Stormont to make life better,” she continued.

“I grew up in Ballymartin and am raising my three primary school aged children here. I was educated in Kilkeel Primary School and Kilkeel High School and am a law graduate from Queen’s University.”

Mrs Forsythe is also a qualified chartered accountant and her professional career includes ten years in public sector financial audit, three years in local manufacturing industry finance and three years as a financial manager in the charity sector.

She added: “I am looking forward to speaking to everyone on the doorsteps in the coming weeks and if anyone wants to enquire if they are registered to vote in South Down or meet me for assistance with securing a postal or proxy vote please get in touch.”

Mr Harvey said he is “honoured’ to have secured his party’s nomination to contest the Strangford seat alongside existing colleagues Michelle McIlveen and Peter Weir.

Mr Harvey was co-opted to the Assembly in 2019 to replace Simon Hamilton and is a former Newry, Mourne and Down councillor.

“I am delighted to have been chosen to contest the May election and getting out to meet people and discuss the issues of concern to them. I believe that when people work together they get things done and make life better for everyone,” he added.