IT was a disappointing campaign for the Ulster Unionist Party with their decision to run three candidates failing to improve on their last Assembly election performance.
The DUP were the big winners in South Antrim as their three candidates were returned with some ease.
Paul Girvan topped the poll with 5,014 votes, missing the quota by just six votes on the first count and was followed by Pamela Cameron at the fifth count and finally Trevor Clarke, who got over the line late into Friday evening.
Speaking during his election speech Mr Girvan took the opportunity to make a sly dig at the UUP’s decision to run three candidates in the constituency, saying it was a “lesson” they would learn.
“Some times parties take the opportunity to run maybe more candidates than they should and as a consequence you cannot be sure that you will hold all those votes.”
The big story throughout Friday was the anxious wait for Alliance Party leader David Ford to be elected who was languishing in seventh position after the first count.
Transfers however ensured his and Sinn Féin’s Declan Kearney’s election after the seventh stage of the count.
“I think it was much the same as how I have tended to get elected every time, which is get a respectable vote, prove to be transfer friendly and work it up through the various stages," Mr Ford said.
The Alliance leader admitted he was actually surprised at how easy he had got in and during his election speech addressed the 51.01 percent turnout in the constituency.
“Today is not the end of the political process for those that have been elected today is the start of a five year mandate in which we must do that work and persuade the almost 50 percent of South Antrim who did not vote yesterday that they should vote and that democracy is something vital and something that can deliver.”
In his address Mr Kearney praised his predecessor Mitchell McLaughlin’s example as a “magnificent political representative and ambassador for the peace process” and vowed to continue his good work.
“I’m proud and honoured to be able to retain this seat on behalf of the party and take forward what Mitchell has invested in this constituency and the peace process itself over the last few years.”
The final two seats were a straight fight between three candidates with UUP men Steve Aiken and Paul Michael battling with the DUP’s Trevor Clarke for election.
In the end it was Mr Michael who missed out, with the UUP’s decision to run three candidates not having the desired impact with Adrian Cochrane Watson earlier eliminated at the fourth count.
Despite the disappointment Mr Aiken in his election speech vowed that the UUP would come back stronger on a night where the DUP once again reigned in South Antrim.
Elected: Paul Girvan (DUP), Pam Cameron (DUP), Declan Kearney (SF), David Ford (Alliance), Steve Aiken (UUP) and Trevor Clarke (DUP).
