Gardiner Kane facts for kids

Gardiner Kane was born on November 25, 1947. He is a former politician from Northern Ireland. He was a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLA) for North Antrim. He served in this role from 1998 to 2003.

Before becoming an MLA, he was a member of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). He also served as a local politician on the Moyle District Council. He represented the Ballycastle area from 1985 until 2002.

Early Life and Public Service

Joining Public Service

Gardiner Kane was born in Ballymoney, a town in Northern Ireland. In 1974, he joined the Royal Ulster Constabulary Reserve. This was a police support group. He served with them for ten years, until 1984.

Starting in Politics

After his time with the police reserve, Kane joined the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). This is a political party in Northern Ireland. In 1985, he was elected to the Moyle District Council. A district council is like a local government. It helps manage things in a specific area.

Leadership Roles in Moyle

Kane was an active member of the Moyle District Council. He was chosen to be the Chair of the council twice. He held this important leadership position in 1990 and again in 1996.

Seeking Assembly Seat

In 1996, Kane tried to get elected to the Northern Ireland Forum. This was a group set up to discuss the future of Northern Ireland. He ran for the North Antrim area but was not successful that time.

Becoming an MLA

In 1998, Gardiner Kane ran for election again. This time, it was for the Northern Ireland Assembly. The Assembly is the main law-making body for Northern Ireland. He was successfully elected to represent North Antrim. He served as a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLA) until 2003.

Later Political Career

Leaving the DUP

In 2002, Gardiner Kane left the Democratic Unionist Party. He also stepped down from his position on the Moyle District Council. This led to a special election to fill his council seat.

Running as an Independent

In the 2003 Assembly election, Kane decided to run again. However, this time he ran as an independent. This means he did not belong to a specific political party. He received 623 votes but was not re-elected to the Assembly.

Community Involvement

Gardiner Kane is a member of several community groups. These groups are known as the Loyal Orders. They include the Orange Order, the Apprentice Boys of Derry, and the Royal Black Institution. These organizations are important parts of the culture in Northern Ireland.