Joe Gaston

Joe Gaston (born 1926 or 1927) is a Unionist politician in Northern Ireland.

Gaston worked as a farmer and served part-time in the Ulster Defence Regiment.^[1] In 1973, he was elected to Ballymoney Borough Council as a non-party candidate. He was re-elected in 1977, for the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP).^[2]

In December 1977, Gaston's right leg was removed by a bomb planted in his tractor by the Provisional Irish Republican Army.^[1][3]

Gaston was elected at the Northern Ireland Assembly election, 1982 in North Antrim.^[4] In 1985, he served as Deputy Mayor of Ballymoney, then as Mayor from 1986 - 87 and 1990 - 93.

At the 1992 general election, Gaston contested Ian Paisley's North Antrim seat, taking second place with 18.1% of the votes cast.^[5] In 1996, he was elected to the Northern Ireland Forum, again in North Antrim,^[6] and served his final term as Mayor of Ballymoney.

Gaston lost his council seat in 2005.^[7]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Suzanne Breen, "The forgotten victims of the Troubles", Sunday Tribune, May 2006
2. ^ The Local Government Elections 1973-1981: Ballymoney, Northern Ireland Elections
3. ^ Belfast Today
4. ^ North Antrim 1973-1982, Northern Ireland Elections
5. ^ North Antrim, 1983-1992, Northern Ireland Elections
6. ^ North Antrim, Northern Ireland Elections
7. ^ Ballymoney Borough Council Elections 1993-2005, Northern Ireland Elections