South Down - Willie Clarke
Councillor Willie Clarke, a native of Newcastle, is married to Paula who has recently given birth to their daughter Tara. He was elected to serve on Down District Council in 2001 when he topped the poll and was elected MLA in the 2003 Assembly elections. He is currently employed by an environmental/conservation organisation which is working to preserve the natural beauty of the Mourne Mountains.
Willie has held a number of key positions on Down District Council. A representative on the ARC 21 Committee, he is part of a group tasked with devising a strategy for waste management in Down District which must meet European Directives to reduce landfill sites. He is the Vice Chair of the Cultural and Economic Development Committee and was previously chairperson of Corporate Services. Part of his remit was to serve on the NILGA executive that co-ordinates environmental policy between the 26 councils in the north. He believes a holistic approach to tourism must be developed on an all Ireland basis
A committed environmental campaigner, Willie has played an active role in the preservation of the Mournes and the development of the region as part of an all Ireland tourist destination. He sits on the project board of Down District Council, which is promoting three capital projects for South Down: The building of Council offices on the Downshire site in Downpatrick, the construction of a new leisure complex for Newcastle and the redevelopment of the central promenad
As a young adult himself, Willie is acutely aware of the issues facing young people in Down District prioritising issues such as the provision of better leisure facilities. Recently he has spearheaded a local community initiative to tackle the rise in drug abuse in Newcastle.
