Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council will likely remain unionist-controlled following the May election, but it could be close.
Changes in demographics have seen both Alliance and Sinn Fein add seats on the council formed following the region-wide amalgamation after the 2014 local elections.
It is fully expected the vote in the area will come down to a head count around the wider political positions rather than burning local issues in any of the district electoral areas.
At the last election, the DUP won 14 seats, down one, the UUP nine, down three, while the Alliance gained three and Sinn Fein two.
The SDLP kept four seats, the TUV lost its two while one independent unionist was elected. Overall, unionists lost five seats.
For the first time, Sinn Fein is fielding candidates in every DEA, including the traditionally solidly unionist Ballyclare. In total, 10 candidates are standing.
There are complaints over the nomination papers of Gerard Magee as the Sinn Fein candidate in the Ballyclare area but the party insists there is no basis to the claims.
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While Sinn Fein is unlikely to win a seat in the area, there is a possibility of an Alliance gain, potentially linked to an influx of people in and around Doagh, many of them young families.
However, those keeping an eye on the political trends in the borough do note Alliance may be hampered by a lack of resources and strong candidates. It is suggested the party’s potential support is growing faster than its ability to harness the votes.
There has also been some turmoil and tragedy locally with first the suspension of councillor Glenn Finlay before his sudden death last year. His replacement was Jay Burbank.
The DUP, which has high profile former MLA Paula Bradley standing in Glengormley Urban, will hope to hold off any challenge from the TUV, which is fielding five candidates.
It is not clear where the party can gain seats unless from the UUP or independent Michael Stewart in Ballyclare.
Apart from the co-option of former North Belfast MLA Ms Bradley on to the council, replacing Phillip Brett who in turn won her seat in last year’s assembly election, there have been other changes since 2019.
All three of the party’s candidates in the Macedon area were co-opted on to the council. Indeed, one councillor, Linda Irwin, was co-opted on to the council but then resigned and a second co-option occurred.
For the SDLP, the job is to hold what it has. Four candidates have stood in the last two elections and all have gained enough votes to be elected. The party claims it is a “tried and tested” council group.
After dropping two percentage points, and three seats, at the last election, the Ulster Unionists also are contending with the loss of stalwart Frazer Agnew, the former MLA, and party colleague Roderick Swann. Ballyclare DUP Alderman Mandy Girvan is a third member not seeking re-election.
CANDIDATES
Airport:
Thomas Burns (SDLP)
Terri Johnston (Green Party)
Anne Marie Logue (Sinn Féin)
Matthew Magill (DUP)
Andrew McAuley (Alliance)
Paul Michael (UUP)
Maighréad Ní Chonghaile (Sinn Féin)
Antrim:
Eleanor Bailey (Green Party)
Paul Dunlop (DUP)
Neil Kelly (Alliance)
Roisin Lynch (SDLP)
Karl McMeekin (DUP)
Tommy Monahan (Alliance)
Jim Montgomery (UUP)
Lucille O'Hagan (Sinn Féin)
Richard Shields (TUV-No Sea Border)
John Smyth (DUP)
Leah Smyth (UUP)
Ballyclare:
Jeannie Archibald (DUP)
Lewis Boyle (Alliance)
Mel Lucas (TUV)
Gerard Magee (Sinn Féin)
Helen Magill (DUP)
Vera McWilliam (UUP)
Norrie Ramsay (UUP)
Robert Robinson (Green Party)
Michael Stewart (Independent)
Dunsilly:
Jay Burbank (Alliance)
Jonathan Campbell (TUV)
Linda Clarke (DUP)
Tom Cunningham (DUP)
Henry Cushinan (Sinn Féin)
Siobhán McErlean (Aontú)
Annie O'Lone (Sinn Féin)
Ryan Wilson (SDLP)
Stewart Wilson (UUP)
Glengormley:
Alison Bennington (DUP)
Paula Bradley (DUP)
Mark Cosgrove (UUP)
Michael Goodman (Sinn Féin)
Rosie Kinnear (Sinn Féin)
Michael Maguire (Independent)
Noreen McClelland (SDLP)
Julian McGrath (Alliance)
Eamonn McLaughlin (Sinn Féin)
Anita Piatek (Alliance)
Jason Reid (Conservatives)
Lesley Veronica (Green Party)
Macedon:
Rosemary Bell-McCracken (PUP)
Norman Boyd (TUV)
Matthew Brady (DUP)
Ellie Byrne (Green Party)
Robert Foster (UUP)
Ben Mallon (DUP)
Taylor McGrann (Sinn Féin)
Victor Robinson (DUP)
Stafford Ward (Independent)
Billy Webb (Alliance)
Threemilewater:
Tom Campbell (Alliance)
Mark Cooper (DUP)
Stephen Cosgrove (UUP)
Sam Flanagan (DUP)
Julie Gilmour (Alliance)
Brian Kerr (UUP)
Dylan Loughlin (Green Party)
Trevor Mawhinney (TUV)
Emmanuel Mullen (Sinn Féin)
Stephen Ross (DUP)
