Elections 2001... Elections 2001... Elections 2001... Elections 2001
Keen and confident
This week saw Sinn Féin launch its local government electoral challenge throughout the Six Counties. For the first time, the party is fielding candidates in councils such as Castlereagh and Ballymena.
The party is also mounting a strong challenge for seats in Newtownabbey council with three nominees in the running.
Roisin McGurk fought a by-election in Newtownabbey last year in a campaign that tested the waters and showed the party's potential to win votes in places long viewed as loyalist strongholds. But it is in areas such as Ballymena and Castlereagh that Sinn Féin's challenge will shake unionism to its core.
Also the Sinn Féin challenge throughout the North will worry the SDLP. The party is standing 158 candidates in local elections, 50 more than last time and for the first time is contesting all 18 Westminster seats.
In areas such as Lisburn, where Sinn Féin councillors had to run the gauntlet of sectarian attack, the party is now the second largest party but is set to gain in the June 7 contest.
In Derry, Sinn Féin is also fielding a larger n umber of candidates than ever before and is confident of gains.
Speaking to An Phoblacht Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams said: ``A stronger mandate in the upcoming elections will enhance the party's negotiating position and strengthen our ability in the negotiations to secure a decent civic policing service, a real process of demilitarisation and progress in implementing the Good Friday Agreement.''
![[An Phoblacht]](http://republican-news.org/graphics/title_gifs/aprn.gif)