WHILE Sinn Fein increased their share of the vote in East Derry, the result was a disappointment for sitting assembly member, Cathal Ó hOisín who lost his seat.
The Dungiven man lost out to his party colleague, Caoimhe Archibald who won the seat by virtue of a much better first preference performance.
As a Sinn Féin candidate in a predominantly unionist constituency, Mr Ó hOisín was always going to struggle to gain the necessary transfers to get over the winner's line.
While Sinn Féin had hoped to take a seat from the SDLP following the retirement of SDLP heavyweight, John Dallat, the tactic failed and party representation remained the same in East Derry. Mr Ó hOisín believes vote management was a factor in the loss of his seat.
“We’d seven and a half thousand votes there and we got one seat out of it and the SDLP had 3,200 votes (first preferences) and they are getting one seat out of it.
“There was an aspect of vote management in it. We were trying very, very hard for two seats. We got our vote out as far as we’re concerned,” he said.
The other key talking points in East Derry was the slump in the SDLP vote and the failure of the Ulster Unionist Party to win back the seat taken in 2011 by the late independent unionist, David McClarty.
While former SDLP mayor of Limavady, Gerry Mullan retained the seat, the party's share of the vote fell substantially. In 2011, the SDLP took more than 14% of the vote. However, its percentage share fell to just over 9% on Thursday, a fall of 5%. Mr Mullan said the party would have to listen to what its supporters were saying in East Derry if it was to increase the vote.
Thursday was a personal victory for Independent Unionist, Claire Sugden. Ms Sugden was co-opted onto the assembly in 2014 after the death of independent, David McClarty. There had been strong speculation before the election that she would struggle to hold the seat in the face of a huge drive by the UUP to win it back. However, a solid first preference vote and substantial transfers brought her across the line on the ninth and final count.
In her acceptance speech, Ms Sugden paid tribute to her mentor.
"I wish to extend my thanks to the McClarty family. They have been with me from day one. That brings me on to David McClarty. I would not be standing here had it not been for him and for that I am truly grateful.
"I studied politics in Queen's and when I came out from university I knocked on David McClarty's door and I said to him 'David would you give me a wee bit of volunteer work.' That started with five hours per week which led to me being his election agent when he was successfully elected in 2011 and now here I stand, Claire Sugden, Independent MLA for East Londonderry," she said.
At the declaration, a number of candidates became emotional. DUP poll topper, Maurice Bradley dedicated his victory to his “Aunt Shirley” who was ill. The SDLP's Mr Mullan also paid tribute to former assembly member, Mr Dallat and the late Arthur Doherty.
