Timothy Gaston (born 1988 or 1989) is a Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) politician, serving as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for North Antrim since July 2024.
Timothy Gaston | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Legislative Assembly for North Antrim | |
| Assumed office 16 July 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Jim Allister |
| Deputy mayor of Mid and East Antrim | |
| In office April 2015 – 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Office created |
| Succeeded by | William McNeilly |
| Member of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council | |
| In office 22 May 2014 – 16 July 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Council established |
| Succeeded by | Anna Henry |
| Constituency | Bannside |
| Member of Ballymena Borough Council | |
| In office 14 February 2013 – 22 May 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Davy Tweed |
| Succeeded by | Council abolished |
| Constituency | Ballymena South |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1988 or 1989 (age 35–36) Ballymena, Northern Ireland |
| Political party | Traditional Unionist Voice |
Prior to this, Gaston had been a Mid and East Antrim Borough Councillor for the Bannside DEA from 2014 to 2024.
Political career
editGaston's first electoral contest was at the 2011 local elections, where he was the running mate to Ballymena Councillor, Roy Gillespie, in the Bannside District.[1]
He was later co-opted onto the council in February 2013, for the Ballymena South District, following the resignation of Davy Tweed.[2]
Gaston was elected onto the new Mid and East Antrim Borough Council at the 2014 local elections, topping the poll in Bannside.[3]
In April 2015, he was appointed as the first deputy mayor of Mid and East Antrim.[4]
He was the TUV candidate in North Antrim at the 2015 general election, finishing second with 6,561 votes (15.7%), against Ian Paisley Jr of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP).[5]
At the 2016 Northern Ireland Assembly election, he was the running mate in North Antrim to sitting Assembly member and party leader, Jim Allister. Gaston was eliminated on the sixth count, with his transfers helping elect Allister.[6]
Gaston stood again at the 2017 Assembly election, but was not successful.[7]
At the 2017 general election, Gaston stood again in North Antrim, where he came fourth with 3,282 votes (6.8%).[8]
In July 2024, he was co-opted to the Northern Ireland Assembly to succeed Allister, following the latter’s election as MP for North Antrim.[9]
References
edit- ^ "Ballymena Council Elections 1993-2011". Ark Elections. 16 July 2024.
- ^ "Gaston becomes Ballymena's youngest councillor". Northern Ireland World. 14 February 2013. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
- ^ "Allister and Gaston to stand in North Antrim". Northern Ireland World. 29 February 2016. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
- ^ "Mid and East Antrim Deputy Mayor". TUV-Traditional Unionist Voice. 21 December 2015. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
- ^ "Election result for North Antrim (Constituency)". UK Parliament. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
- ^ "Watch: Jim Allister first elected in North Antrim on seventh count". Belfast Newsletter. 7 May 2016. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
- ^ "North Antrim - Northern Ireland Assembly constituency". BBC News. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
- ^ "UK Parliament election results: Election for the constituency of North Antrim on 8 June 2017". UK Parliament. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
- ^ "TUV councillor Timothy Gaston selected to replace Jim Allister as an MLA". Belfast Live. 16 July 2024.
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