Alternattiva Demokratika today presented its seven candidates for council elections.

They are Ralph Cassar (Attard), Toni Falzon (Nadur), David Camilleri (Qala), Henrik Piski (Qormi), Julio Caruana (St Julian’s), Simon Galea (St Paul’s Bay), and Monique Agius (Żebbuġ).

The party will be contesting the elections on the theme “Society, Ecology, Accountability”.

Candidates promised that, if elected, they would work for increased investment in public libraries and for cooperation with schools and local organisations to encourage reading.

They said they would work to protect open spaces and give priority in residential roads to people and to increase accessibility and road safety, promoting facilities for pedestrians, cyclists, the elderly, persons with disabilities and parents with young children.

Their guiding principle would be the common good and the building of a sense of community.

AD councillowrs would also work for more native trees to be planted in streets, on public land and in gardens. They would promote and extend recycling through information campaigns and insistence on enforcement. They would also work towards reaching the national target of zero waste in 2050, by promoting a local plan on waste reduction.

AD candidates committed themselves to communicate clearly and honestly with residents if elected and to say things as they were.

They said they would insist on financial responsibility and that their council did not engage in works or projects which were financially unsustainable, such as the public-private partnerships for roads leading to the financial ruin of quite a number of councils.

They said they would maintain contact with residents through social media and personal contact.

Their guiding principle would be that transparency and financial accountability strengthened democracy.