Last Summer, we had the cut and thrust of the Local and European elections, it looks like the shakedown of the Dublin mayoral elections could happen this June. Could we see a Return of the Cutouts? Whatever else, the case of the celebrity candidate is back on the table.

Mary Minihan writes in today’s Irish Times:

Environmental campaigner and broadcaster Duncan Stewart is understood to have been mentioned as someone who would make a good Green candidate. It was argued that the party needed to find a candidate with a blend of political experience and profile.

I’m at a loss where Stewart’s political experience comes from. How to choose more efficient lagging jackets? While Stewart could ably steer Good Ship Dublin towards to turning down the heat by one degree, does he have the requisite local politics experience on the workings of councils under his belt? Should he?

It’s interesting to note that just month, TV’s Duncan Stewart attended a sendoff of humanitarian aid to Gaza. As you’ll remember from last year’s election trail, Duncan Stewart was all over the Green campaign.

The clamber for celebrity candidates is interesting. Who could out-TV Duncan Stewart? Housewives choice Joe Duffy? Surely the other parties have aces up their sleeves?

The model of a directly-elected Mayor of Dublin is one of the promises of the Programme for Government. The new mayor will have powers that include planning, transportation and waste management across the Dublin city authorities as well as act as chair to the Dublin Transport Authority. They will be paid in and around the salary of a minister.

Photo: The Green Party Flickr Photostream (licence)