“I’m not ruling anything in or out” was Mayor Kevin Kiely’s comment this Wednesday on political speculation that he will be seeking the mayoralty for a second successive term.
He is already on record as saying he requires a second year to fulfil his programme of goals.
According to insiders, however, he is keen to further his political career, with his sights possibly set on entering Leinster House as a TD for Limerick East.
A source inside the Fine Gael party told the Limerick Post that he believes that the holder of the office could seek the support of councillors outside his own party to give him sufficient votes for a second term in office.
It has been hinted that Cllr Jim Long, a close friend, could lend his support, but such a scenario is deemed unlikely.
Predicted one source: “Kevin Kiely will go on his own – that way he will have something for everyone in the audience – he will have the next mayoralty for himself and three further mayoralties for his supporters, as well as four deputy mayorship to offer for the remainder of this council”.
On Wednesday morning, Cllr Marie Byrne told the Limerick Post she was unanimously endorsed by her FG colleagues some weeks ago.
“I haven’t heard anything to the contrary,” she said.
Stating that he will be nominating Cllr Byrne for the mayoralty, Cllr Long said: “ While I don’t anticipate any other nominee, I don’t rule it out”.
However, it is seen as not beyond a possibility that Cllr Long will cross the floor to support Kiely.
Meanwhile, voicing his “unease” at Mayor Kiely’s recently declared support for a return of capital punishment, a party colleague said he should remember that as first citizen, he should be seen to speak on behalf of all of the people”.
