Overend thanks supporters following election loss

by Gillian McDade

Former Mid-Ulster Assembly Member Sandra Overend has thanked all those who supported her in the elections.

Mrs Overend failed to win a seat for the Ulster Unionist Party.

In an open letter, she says it’s ‘an honour and a privilege to have represented Mid-Ulster at the Assembly since 2011.’

And she adds that she’s looking forward to new challenges that lie ahead.

 “I am humbled that so many placed their trust in me. Unfortunately, with the huge increase in Nationalist votes combined with the reduction in seats for each constituency it was not enough to see me returned to the Northern Ireland Assembly, and, of course, I am hugely disappointed,” she states in her letter.

“It has been an honour and a privilege to represent Mid-Ulster at the Assembly since 2011, my greatest pleasure having been able to help so many local people whether at a local level in the constituency or at legislative level at Stormont. Indeed, people continued to call for help right up until Polling Day.  I hope that they will say that I have done my best, but I am now sorry that that work cannot continue.”

In the letter, Mrs Overend says this was an election that was unnecessary, coming just 10 months after the last one.

“It is unfortunate that people were left with no option but to go back to the polls having been terribly let down by the failure of the DUP and Sinn Fein to form a stable government. It is hugely regrettable that those two parties appear to have been rewarded for the last ten years of misrule. With the DUP and Sinn Fein having again been returned as the largest parties, it is now incumbent on them to work together to find a solution to the political crisis which they created, and a return to a government that works for everyone here. Sadly however, there appears to be little prospect of that in sight, and direct rule, or even another election appear to be distinct possibilities.”

She states she is proud to say that the Ulster Unionist Party ran a positive campaign across Northern Ireland, and in Mid-Ulster, they worked hard to bring the message to people in South Londonderry, East Tyrone and Torrent.

“To that end I want to thank my entire team, each having played a vital part in the campaign, my Election Agent, my father Billy Armstrong, who I can always depend on, our enthusiastic team of Councillors, our young and vibrant team of canvassers,  and my staff who kept the office running alongside. Special thanks to my nearest and dearest, all my family whose lives have been framed by my life as an MLA; they have supported me, campaigned for me, sacrificed so much for the life that I’ve led, having given so much to others, I thank them from the bottom of my heart.”

And she adds: “I am very thankful for all the supportive messages that I’ve been receiving all evening; it is lovely that so many have taken time to get in touch.  I now look forward to new challenges that lie ahead. Thank you.”