# Newtownards (District Electoral Area)

Newtownards is one of the seven district electoral areas (DEA) in Ards and North Down, Northern Ireland. The district elects five members to Ards and North Down Borough Council and contains the wards of Conway Square, Cronstown, Glen, Gregstown, Movilla, Scrabo and West Winds. Newtownards forms part of the Strangford constituencies for the Northern Ireland Assembly and UK Parliament.
It was created for the 1985 local elections, where it contained seven wards (Bradshaw's Brae, Central, Glen, Loughries, Movilla, Scrabo and Whitespots). For the 1993 local elections, it was reduced to six wards, gaining Ballyrainey but losing Loughries and Movilla to the new Ards East DEA. For the 2014 local elections, it returned to seven wards as Ards East was abolished.

## Councillors

| Election | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) |
| 2023 | Alan McDowell (Alliance) | Vicky Moore (Alliance) | Richard Smart (UUP) | Steven Irvine (Independent) | Naomi Armstrong (DUP) | Stephen McIlveen (DUP) | | Colin Kennedy (DUP) |
| May 2022 Co-Options | Alan McDowell (Alliance) | Vicky Moore (Alliance) | Richard Smart (UUP) | Steven Irvine (Independent) | Naomi Armstrong (DUP) | Stephen McIlveen (DUP) | | Colin Kennedy (DUP) |
| 2019 | Alan McDowell (Alliance) | Nick Mathison (Alliance) | Richard Smart (UUP) | Jimmy Menagh (Independent) | Naomi Armstrong (DUP) | Stephen McIlveen (DUP) | | Colin Kennedy (DUP) |
| 2014 | Alan McDowell (Alliance) | Katherine Ferguson (UUP) | Richard Smart (UUP) | Jimmy Menagh (Independent) | Naomi Armstrong (DUP) | Stephen McIlveen (DUP) | | Colin Kennedy (DUP) |
| 2011 | Alan McDowell (Alliance) | Thomas Hamilton (UUP) | David Smyth (UUP) | Jimmy Menagh (Independent) | Naomi Armstrong (DUP) | Stephen McIlveen (DUP) | 6 seats 1993-2014 | 6 seats 1993-2014 |
| 2005 | Alan McDowell (Alliance) | Thomas Hamilton (UUP) | David Smyth (UUP) | George Ennis (DUP) | Simon Hamilton (DUP) | Michelle McIlveen (DUP) | 6 seats 1993-2014 | 6 seats 1993-2014 |
| 2001 | Alan McDowell (Alliance) | Thomas Hamilton (UUP) | David Smyth (UUP) | George Ennis (DUP) | Hamilton Lawther (DUP) | Wilbert Magill (DUP)/ (Independent Unionist) | 6 seats 1993-2014 | 6 seats 1993-2014 |
| 1997 | Alan McDowell (Alliance) | Thomas Hamilton (UUP) | David Smyth (UUP) | George Ennis (DUP) | Bobby McBride (Independent Unionist) | Wilbert Magill (DUP)/ (Independent Unionist) | 6 seats 1993-2014 | 6 seats 1993-2014 |
| 1993 | Alan McDowell (Alliance) | Thomas Hamilton (UUP) | David Smyth (UUP) | George Ennis (DUP) | Nancy Orr (Independent Unionist) | Wilbert Magill (DUP)/ (Independent Unionist) | 6 seats 1993-2014 | 6 seats 1993-2014 |
| 1989 | Owen Dorrian (Alliance) | Thomas Benson (UUP) | David Smyth (UUP) | Simpson Gibson (DUP) | John Elliott (DUP) | Wilbert Magill (DUP)/ (Independent Unionist) | | John Purdy (Independent Unionist) |
| 1985 | Owen Dorrian (Alliance) | Thomas Benson (UUP) | David Smyth (UUP) | Simpson Gibson (DUP) | John Elliott (DUP) | William Gilmore (DUP) | | Robert Gaw (NILP) |

## 2023 Election

2019: 3 x DUP, 2 x Alliance, 1 x UUP, 1 x Independent
2023: 3 x DUP, 2 x Alliance, 1 x UUP, 1 x Independent
2019–2023 Change: No change
Newtownards - 7 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| | Independent | Steven Irvine* | 15.76% | 1,463 | | | | | | | |
| | DUP | Naomi Armstrong* | 14.75% | 1,370 | | | | | | | |
| | UUP | Richard Smart* | 13.54% | 1,257 | | | | | | | |
| | Alliance | Alan McDowell* | 13.31% | 1,236 | | | | | | | |
| | DUP | Stephen McIlveen* | 11.38% | 1,057 | 1,111.78 | 1,154.98 | 1,161.98 | | | | |
| | Alliance | Vicky Moore* | 10.20% | 947 | 959.32 | 961.42 | 1,126.21 | 1,159.33 | 1,230.97 | | |
| | DUP | Colin Kennedy* | 6.25% | 580 | 628.4 | 764.75 | 768.49 | 797.83 | 798.25 | 801.43 | 981.25 |
| | TUV | Eddie Allen | 6.44% | 598 | 670.16 | 681.26 | 686.68 | 700.36 | 700.72 | 702.4 | 872.68 |
| | Independent | Ian Cox | 5.68% | 527 | 618.3 | 625.5 | 672.21 | 685.08 | 685.56 | 701.16 | |
| | Green (NI) | Maurice Macartney | 2.43% | 226 | 233.04 | 234.39 | | | | | |
| | Independent | Ben King | 0.26% | 24 | 36.54 | 36.84 | | | | | |
| Electorate: 21,723 Valid: 9,285 (42.74%) Spoilt: 167 Quota: 1,161 Turnout: 9,452 (43.51%) ||||||||||||

## 2019 Election

2014: 3 x DUP, 2 x UUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x Independent
2019: 3 x DUP, 2 x Alliance, 1 x UUP, 1 x Independent
2014-2019 Change: Alliance gain from UUP
Newtownards - 7 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| | Independent | Jimmy Menagh* † | 25.63% | 2,138 | | | | | | |
| | DUP | Naomi Armstrong* | 14.77% | 1,232 | | | | | | |
| | Alliance | Nick Mathison † | 13.08% | 1,091 | | | | | | |
| | DUP | Stephen McIlveen* | 10.77% | 898 | 1,127.1 | | | | | |
| | DUP | Colin Kennedy – | 6.83% | 570 | 771.84 | 919.59 | 924.07 | 988.03 | 1,055.03 | |
| | UUP | Richard Smart* | 8.82% | 736 | 964.52 | 970.97 | 979.45 | 986.99 | 1,040.12 | 1,076.12 |
| | Alliance | Alan McDowell* | 6.88% | 574 | 668.54 | 670.19 | 678.83 | 679.87 | 696.66 | 977.61 |
| | UUP | Ian Dickson | 5.77% | 481 | 585.98 | 599.78 | 602.09 | 607.29 | 677.47 | 734.16 |
| | Green (NI) | Maurice Macartney | 4.49% | 374 | 448.82 | 450.47 | 466.01 | 467.05 | 503.97 | |
| | UKIP | Paul Corry | 2.67% | 223 | 341.32 | 348.07 | 358.34 | 361.2 | | |
| | Independent | Ben King | 0.29% | 24 | 61.12 | 61.42 | | | | |
| Electorate: 20,491 Valid: 8,341 (40.71%) Spoilt: 138 Quota: 1,043 Turnout: 8,479 (41.38%) |||||||||||

## 2014 Election

This election was carried out under new ward boundaries, as a result of local government reform.
2011: 2 x DUP, 2 x UUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x Independent
2014: 3 x DUP, 2 x UUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x Independent
2011-2014: DUP gain due to the addition of one seat
Newtownards - 7 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| | Independent | James Menagh* | 18.06% | 1,464 | | | | | | | | |
| | DUP | Naomi Armstrong* | 12.94% | 1,049 | | | | | | | | |
| | DUP | Stephen McIlveen* | 10.23% | 829 | 900.4 | 907.75 | 910.3 | 931.46 | 946.89 | 1,016.34 | | |
| | DUP | Colin Kennedy* | 6.82% | 553 | 585.2 | 591.2 | 593.6 | 607.35 | 618.73 | 665.55 | 1,030.55 | |
| | Alliance | Alan McDowell* | 6.64% | 538 | 554.8 | 567.15 | 567.42 | 578.82 | 631.22 | 653.02 | 659.17 | 1,074.17 |
| | UUP | Richard Smart | 7.88% | 639 | 683.1 | 705.8 | 706.25 | 725.35 | 751.1 | 807.56 | 836.74 | 864.79 |
| | UUP | Katherine Ferguson | 7.34% | 595 | 631.05 | 659.10 | 660.24 | 681.12 | 714.9 | 759.1 | 811.18 | 855.85 |
| | TUV | David McMullen | 6.44% | 522 | 559.8 | 570.5 | 570.95 | 586.4 | 602.48 | 647.68 | 679.45 | 689.53 |
| | Alliance | Linda Cleland* | 6.11% | 495 | 512.85 | 515.85 | 516.51 | 530.96 | 588.66 | 623.36 | 634.13 | |
| | DUP | John Elliott* | 5.72% | 464 | 508.45 | 512.45 | 534.26 | 555.77 | 565.56 | 611.51 | | |
| | Independent | Ian Cox | 4.74% | 384 | 470.45 | 471.45 | 472.11 | 542.34 | 559.39 | | | |
| | NI21 | Nichola Keenan | 3.10% | 251 | 263.25 | 274.25 | 274.49 | 288.19 | | | | |
| | Independent | Sharon Hunt | 2.54% | 206 | 250.8 | 253.8 | 254.01 | | | | | |
| | NI Conservatives | William McKendry | 1.46% | 118 | 121.85 | | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 19,953 Valid: 8,107 (40.63%) Spoilt: 143 Quota: 1,014 Turnout: 8,250 (41.35%) |||||||||||||

## 2011 Election

2005: 3 x DUP, 2 x UUP, 1 x Alliance
2011: 2 x DUP, 2 x UUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x Independent
2005-2011 Change: Independent gain from DUP
Newtownards - 6 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| | DUP | Naomi Armstrong | 18.31% | 979 | | | |
| | Alliance | Alan McDowell* | 16.51% | 883 | | | |
| | DUP | Stephen McIlveen | 14.72% | 787 | | | |
| | Independent | Jimmy Menagh | 14.29% | 764 | 772.14 | | |
| | UUP | Thomas Hamilton* | 10.45% | 559 | 573.96 | 671.06 | 713.78 |
| | UUP | David Smyth* | 10.53% | 563 | 567.84 | 654.94 | 711.1 |
| | DUP | Charlie Simmons | 7.82% | 418 | 589.16 | 639.24 | 657.96 |
| | TUV | Hamilton Lawther | 3.42% | 183 | 186.96 | | |
| | Independent | Ken Richardson | 2.30% | 123 | 124.54 | | |
| | SDLP | Gerard Lennon | 1.66% | 89 | 90.32 | | |
| Electorate: 12,092 Valid: 5,348 (44.23%) Spoilt: 119 Quota: 765 Turnout: 5,467 (45.21%) ||||||||

## 2005 Election

2001: 2 x DUP, 2 x UUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x Independent
2005: 3 x DUP, 2 x UUP, 1 x Alliance
2001-2005 Change: DUP gain from Independent
Newtownards - 6 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| | DUP | George Ennis* | 22.66% | 1,296 | | | |
| | Alliance | Alan McDowell* | 14.39% | 823 | | | |
| | DUP | Simon Hamilton | 8.57% | 490 | 840.76 | | |
| | DUP | Michelle McIlveen | 10.89% | 623 | 652.23 | 1,005.23 | |
| | UUP | Thomas Hamilton* | 12.87% | 736 | 766.34 | 820.7 | |
| | UUP | David Smyth* | 11.38% | 651 | 660.62 | 688.91 | 774.91 |
| | Independent | Wilbert Magill* | 10.56% | 604 | 617.69 | 668.09 | 716.09 |
| | DUP | Hamilton Lawther* | 8.67% | 496 | 536.33 | | |
| Electorate: 11,945 Valid: 5,719 (47.88%) Spoilt: 130 Quota: 818 Turnout: 5,849 (48.97%) ||||||||

## 2001 Election

1997: 2 x UUP, 2 x Independent Unionist, 1 x DUP, 1 x Alliance
2001: 2 x DUP, 2 x UUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x Independent
1997-2001 Change: DUP gain from Independent Unionist, Independent Unionist becomes Independent
Newtownards - 6 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| | DUP | George Ennis* | 22.81% | 1,608 | | | | |
| | UUP | Thomas Hamilton* | 18.27% | 1,288 | | | | |
| | UUP | David Smyth* | 15.04% | 1,060 | | | | |
| | Independent | Wilbert Magill* | 12.61% | 889 | 923.2 | 1,043.2 | | |
| | Alliance | Alan McDowell* | 12.18% | 859 | 863.94 | 915.32 | 1,075.9 | |
| | DUP | Hamilton Lawther | 5.15% | 363 | 838 | 877.14 | 944.41 | 967.66 |
| | DUP | Bobby McBride* | 9.52% | 671 | 734.46 | 779.5 | 830.96 | 852.04 |
| | Independent | Nancy Orr | 4.43% | 312 | 322.66 | | | |
| Electorate: 12,965 Valid: 7,050 (54.38%) Spoilt: 218 Quota: 1,008 Turnout: 7,268 (56.06%) |||||||||

## 1997 Election

1993: 2 x UUP, 2 x DUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x Independent Unionist
1997: 2 x DUP, 2 x Independent Unionist, 1 x DUP, 1 x Alliance
1993-1997 Change: Independent Unionist gain from DUP
Newtownards - 6 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| | Ind. Unionist | Wilbert Magill* | 19.41% | 914 | | | | | | | | |
| | Alliance | Alan McDowell* | 15.37% | 724 | | | | | | | | |
| | UUP | David Smyth* | 14.65% | 690 | | | | | | | | |
| | DUP | George Ennis* | 10.89% | 653 | 692.44 | | | | | | | |
| | UUP | Thomas Hamilton* | 12.00% | 565 | 628.22 | 635.8 | 651.6 | 656.36 | 666.68 | 728.68 | | |
| | Ind. Unionist | Bobby McBride | 6.92% | 326 | 377.33 | 382.33 | 388.83 | 391.38 | 391.78 | 426.07 | 507.6 | 534.6 |
| | Ind. Unionist | Nancy Orr* | 7.15% | 337 | 393.26 | 407.42 | 430.62 | 433.68 | 434.68 | 461.61 | 503.67 | 510.67 |
| | DUP | John Purdy | 4.78% | 225 | 238.63 | 245.08 | 246.28 | 253.76 | 254.62 | 305.39 | | |
| | PUP | Alfred McCrory | 4.69% | 221 | 231.15 | 245.15 | 249.45 | 250.47 | 250.73 | | | |
| | Ulster Democratic | Billy McKeown | 1.17% | 55 | 59.93 | | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 12,942 Valid: 4,710 (36.39%) Spoilt: 120 Quota: 673 Turnout: 4,830 (37.32%) |||||||||||||

## 1993 Election

1989: 3 x DUP, 2 x DUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x Independent Unionist
1993: 2 x UUP, 2 x DUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x Independent Unionist
1989-1993 Change: DUP loss due to the reduction of one seat
Newtownards - 6 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| | UUP | David Smyth* | 17.55% | 817 | | | |
| | Alliance | Alan McDowell | 16.49% | 768 | | | |
| | Ind. Unionist | Nancy Orr | 13.70% | 638 | 645.56 | 695.56 | |
| | UUP | Thomas Hamilton | 9.84% | 458 | 551.24 | 631.1 | 677.79 |
| | DUP | Wilbert Magill* | 11.90% | 554 | 567.32 | 657.3 | 663.51 |
| | DUP | George Ennis | 11.71% | 545 | 549.32 | 634.22 | 638.59 |
| | UUP | Bobby McBride* | 10.74% | 500 | 513.68 | 546.02 | 588.34 |
| | DUP | John Purdy* | 4.60% | 214 | 217.24 | | |
| | NI Conservatives | Andrew Thompson | 3.48% | 162 | 171 | | |
| Electorate: 12,647 Valid: 4,656 (36.82%) Spoilt: 141 Quota: 666 Turnout: 4,797 (37.93%) ||||||||

## 1989 Election

1985: 3 x DUP, 2 x UUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x NILP
1989: 3 x DUP, 2 x UUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x Independent Unionist
1985-1989 Change: Independent Unionist gain from NILP
Newtownards - 7 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| | UUP | Thomas Benson* | 20.60% | 1,307 | | | | | | | | |
| | DUP | Simpson Gibson* | 20.22% | 1,283 | | | | | | | | |
| | Alliance | Owen Dorrian* | 11.33% | 719 | 757 | 763.08 | 770.08 | 964.08 | | | | |
| | DUP | Wilbert Magill | 8.64% | 548 | 565.6 | 679.98 | 686.38 | 686.38 | 687.38 | 799.54 | | |
| | DUP | John Elliott* | 6.43% | 408 | 450.4 | 625.2 | 633.1 | 633.48 | 634.48 | 785.14 | 906.14 | |
| | UUP | David Smyth* | 7.12% | 452 | 544 | 565.66 | 625.38 | 628.18 | 671.18 | 699.68 | 794.68 | |
| | Ind. Unionist | John Purdy | 7.45% | 473 | 485.4 | 496.04 | 503.22 | 511.82 | 578.82 | 585.74 | 682.36 | 697.36 |
| | UUP | Thomas Hamilton | 2.88% | 183 | 430.6 | 449.22 | 482.58 | 489.58 | 525.58 | 535.06 | 603.58 | 636.58 |
| | Ind. Unionist | William Hannigan | 6.84% | 434 | 449.6 | 473.92 | 478.72 | 481.12 | 490.12 | 504.1 | | |
| | DUP | Cedric Wilson | 3.59% | 228 | 236.4 | 339.38 | 340.18 | 342.58 | 343.58 | | | |
| | Alliance | Laurence Thompson | 3.36% | 213 | 218.2 | 218.58 | 221.58 | | | | | |
| | UUP | James McKernon | 1.54% | 98 | 130.8 | 136.12 | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 16,907 Valid: 6,346 (37.53%) Spoilt: 175 Quota: 794 Turnout: 6,521 (38.57%) |||||||||||||

## 1985 Election

1985: 3 x DUP, 2 x UUP, 1 x NILP, 1 x Alliance
Newtownards - 7 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| | DUP | Simpson Gibson* | 22.50% | 1,596 | | | | | | | | | |
| | NI Labour | Robert Gaw* | 16.30% | 1,156 | | | | | | | | | |
| | DUP | John Elliott* | 14.47% | 1,026 | | | | | | | | | |
| | UUP | Thomas Benson | 13.96% | 990 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Alliance | Owen Dorrian* | 7.74% | 549 | 568.8 | 638.64 | 640.07 | 645.07 | 666.67 | 848.2 | 1,002.2 | | |
| | UUP | David Smyth | 7.29% | 517 | 552.1 | 595.06 | 597.79 | 613.79 | 641.15 | 656.35 | 665.87 | 678.87 | 922.87 |
| | DUP | William Gilmore | 3.41% | 242 | 701.9 | 741.26 | 845.65 | 852.15 | 859.57 | 860.63 | 866.49 | 869.49 | 891.94 |
| | DUP | Joseph Patterson | 3.95% | 280 | 425.35 | 443.83 | 458.39 | 460.79 | 467.97 | 470.45 | 472.65 | 473.65 | 489.95 |
| | UUP | David Jeffers | 3.34% | 237 | 263.1 | 301.5 | 307.48 | 369.38 | 412.86 | 420.88 | 427.76 | 443.76 | |
| | Labour Party NI | Hugh McMullan | 2.65% | 188 | 190.25 | 217.85 | 217.98 | 218.18 | 230.86 | 235.34 | | | |
| | Alliance | Laurence Thompson | 2.82% | 200 | 201.8 | 214.76 | 215.15 | 215.95 | 219.29 | | | | |
| | UUP | James McKernon | 1.07% | 76 | 84.1 | 89.38 | 90.94 | 95.24 | | | | | |
| | Ulster Liberal | Michael McGuigan | 0.49% | 35 | 36.35 | 40.43 | 40.43 | 40.83 | | | | | |
| Electorate: 15,487 Valid: 7,092 (45.79%) Spoilt: 157 Quota: 887 Turnout: 7,249 (46.81%) ||||||||||||||