ENNISKILLEN man Paul Blake has been selected by the SDLP to succeed outgoing Fermanagh and Omagh District councillor Patricia Rogers.
One of Fermanagh’s longest serving councillors, Mrs Rogers, recently announced her decision to step down from council at the end of this month for family reasons.
It’s understand that Mr Blake, who has been a party activist for several years, was one of three male candidates who were in the running to replace Mrs Rogers on the council’s Enniskillen Ward.
He was chosen at an SDLP selection meeting in Enniskillen on Friday night.
The 33-year-old, who is a politics with international relations graduate from the University of Dundee, has been a member of the party for close to 18 years.
He says that he is looking forward to getting stuck into what matters to local people.
Mr Blake worked as part of the family business at Blakes of the Hollow and is now based at his old school, St Joseph’s College. He is a son of Pat and Mena and brother to Briege and William.
He previously served on the Fermanagh Shadow Youth Council and in 2014 ran in the council elections in Erne North alongside Cllr John Coyle.
Speaking to the Herald this week, Mr Blake paid tribute to Mrs Rogers as she quits the political scene, adding that is an honour to have been selected by his party to represent the community.
“When this opportunity arose to represent Enniskillen, it was something I was interested in as it’s my home town and I’m very proud of it.
“I hope that I will bring openness and transparency to the council alongside a willingness to work hard and knuckle down to build a better future for people here.”
Mr Blake will be formally co-opted at the next full council meeting in Enniskillen on April 4th
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