Ballyjamesduff MD Candidate: Lester Gordon

Lester James Gordon from Kilgolagh, on the Cavan-Westmeath border near the village of Finea, is a small farmer and haulier. He has been active an advocate for many years, openly challenging the establishment on policy affecting rural communities. He is standing under the Shamrock Independent banner at the up coming election for the Ballyjamesduff area.

How do you unwind?

Fishing would be one thing, I enjoy that, and the occasional socialise. I'd drink a beverage the odd evening, maybe a pint or two of water like I'd drink a pint or two of Guinness maybe. I wouldn't be reckless like.

Why should people vote for you?

I believe I am one of the men who can bring change to this country. I'll bring honesty, transparency, and honour. I think that's badly needed in an awful lot of places. People are finding it awfully hard to survive and live, and its only going to get worse for them.

What will you do to address housing supply?

They're driving the costs up so people can't build houses. Back in '89 people were building fine houses for £25,000. Now you'd need €400,000 in your pocket to get anything. I'd like to bring changes to stop them from pushing people out of their own rural areas and into urban communities. Farmers that own the land should be allowed to build houses on it for their children.

Has Ireland taken in enough refugees?

I'm not against migrants. We went, and different friends of mine and people went to work in Canada and Spain, or England and all over the world. America. The men and women didn't go out there to lie down and get benefits. They went out there to work, and I've no doubt some of the people coming in here to Ireland are good people too, but there's also an element of bad, rubbish that are thugs and prisoners, getting into this country and doing nothing. The EU is flooding here with money and our Irish government are simply enough to be taking it.

What is your main campaigning issues?

When I get out and speak to people its [the cost of] insurance they're mentioning, and its the migrants [issue]. That seems to be what I'm getting hit with most on the doorsteps. Even though I'm with the Shamrock Independents, I didn't agree, and that would be me anyway, with the way they'd laid out [their posters and pamphlets] with no picture of any man on it. That's why I put my own out, and any leaflet I hand out of mine, I'll hand out one of theirs as well.

Should the biodiversity/ climate crisis be at the very top of the council's agenda?

I believe there is geo-engineering going on, with chemtrials, or as they call it in Dubai now, cloud-seeding. I've been talking about that for years, it's been on any Facebook page I've had, geo-engineering and they're controlling climates and causing it to rain. It's not only that but they're spraying us with salt, bohrium and aluminium, so that when it comes out of the planes, mostly in Arizona, when the salt hits the air it explodes and they're blocking the sunlight from the people. That's what I believe. Then again, you'll have people say Lester is a conspiracy theorist, and he's far right, and he's far wrong. Whatever the case, you have to be thick skinned to be fit to cope. There's a lot of people not fit, and there's a lot of people awake out there as well.

Who in a political sphere has influenced you the most?

The one politician I would have an awful lot of time for, and especially coming from a Protestant background, is [former Sinn Féin TD] Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin. One of the most decent men I've ever met. I think he's a great man, and I'd have loved to see him head of the party.”