Sinn Fein councillor John McGowan has stepped down from his role on the council due to ‘personal commitments’.
A selection convention was scheduled for yesterday (Thursday) to choose his replacement, but was cancelled due to poor weather conditions.
Mr McGowan was co-opted onto the council in 2021 to replace then Cllr Damien Mullan, and then elected in last year’s local election.
“After careful consideration, I have decided that now is the right time for me to step down from the local council due to personal commitments.
“It has been an honour and a privilege to have served the people of Galliagh and the wider Ballyarnett area over the last two years.
“I want to thank everyone who put their trust in myself and Sinn Féin in the local council elections, and our team on Derry City & Strabane Council for supporting me during my time as a local councillor.”
“We live in an amazing city with huge potential, and as someone who has worked in local business for many years, I am passionate about creating jobs and strengthening the economy and I will do whatever I can to assist the Sinn Féin team in the city with that work,”
“This is an exciting time in politics across our island, and I want to wish whoever is selected to replace me on the local council all the very best and I look forward to working with them as we build towards a better, fairer and united Ireland for everyone.”
– John McGowan
Nominations to replace the outgoing councillor closed on Monday 15 January.
Mr McGowan is pictured second from left in the image.
