Ken Smollen
Ken Smollen (born 1960 or 1961)[1] is an Irish politician.[2] He is one of the founding members of the Irish Democratic Party (IDP), but left in 2020.[1] Smollen currently sits on Offaly County Council, having been elected for the Tullamore electoral area in 2019.
Ken Smollen | |
---|---|
Offaly County Councillor | |
Assumed office May 2019 | |
Constituency | Tullamore |
Personal details | |
Born | 1960s |
Nationality | Irish |
Political party | Independent |
Residence | Clara, County Offaly |
From Tullamore, Smollen resides in Clara, County Offaly.[3] He is a former sergeant in the Garda Síochána.[4] He served for more than three decades.[1] Each month, the Ken Smollen Food Appeal gives out food package to families.[5]
Smollen ran as a candidate for the Irish Democratic Party in the new Offaly constituency at the 2016 Irish general election.[6]
At the 2019 Offaly County Council election, he ran in the Tullamore electoral area and won a seat.[7]
He was a candidate for the Irish Democratic Party in the Laois–Offaly constituency at the 2020 Irish general election, gaining 3.76% of first preference votes, and was eliminated on the sixth count.[6] In October 2020, Smollen resigned from the IDP and is now an independent councillor.
References
- "He is one of the founding members of the Irish Democratic Party". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
- Molloy, Amy (19 December 2016). "'An engineer whose only crime was to listen to the advice of banks' - Homeless man shares story to raise awareness". Irish Independent. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
- "Big blow for Sinn Féin while Greens claim first seat: Retired garda, and founder of the Irish Democratic Party, wins seat". The Irish Times. 25 May 2019. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
- Henderson, Stan (4 April 2016). "Politicians accused of 'going round a wheel like hamsters'". Irish Independent. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
- "Smollen confirms election run". Offaly Independent. 18 October 2018. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
- "Ken Smollen". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
- "Smollen was elected to Offaly County Council in 2019". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 12 February 2020.