ics ▁ ▁Mas key ▁stood ▁un success fully ▁in ▁West ▁B elf ast ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 9 8 2 ▁Assembly ▁E lection . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 8 3 , ▁as ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁arm al ite ▁and ▁ball ot ▁box ▁strategy , ▁Mas key ▁won ▁a ▁by - e lection ▁for ▁a ▁seat ▁on ▁B elf ast ▁City ▁Council ▁from ▁the ▁Upper ▁F alls ▁area ▁and ▁became ▁the ▁first ▁member ▁of ▁S inn ▁F é in ▁to ▁be ▁elected ▁to ▁B elf ast ▁City ▁Council ▁since ▁the ▁beginning ▁of ▁The ▁Tr ou bles ▁and ▁only ▁the ▁second ▁to ▁be ▁elected ▁in ▁Northern ▁Ireland . ▁ ▁Mas key ▁emer ged ▁as ▁a ▁key ▁al ly ▁of ▁S inn ▁F é in ▁President ▁Ger ry ▁Adams ' ▁approach ▁to ▁the ▁strategy . ▁In ▁ 1 9 8 7 ▁he ▁surv ived ▁being ▁shot ▁at ▁close ▁range ▁by ▁loyal ist ▁par amil itar ies . ▁In ▁ 1 9 9 6 ▁Mas key ▁was ▁elected ▁to ▁the ▁Northern ▁Ireland ▁Peace ▁Forum ▁for ▁the ▁B elf ast ▁West ▁constitu ency ▁but ▁did ▁not ▁attend ▁the ▁Forum ▁in ▁accord ance ▁with ▁S inn ▁F é in ' s ▁policy ▁of ▁ab st ention ism . ▁Two ▁years ▁later ▁he ▁was ▁elected ▁to ▁the ▁Northern ▁Ireland ▁Assembly , ▁which ▁on ▁this ▁occasion ▁S inn ▁F é in ▁did ▁not ▁boy c ott . ▁ ▁Mas key ' s ▁growing ▁political ▁profile ▁led ▁him ▁to ▁contest ▁the ▁B elf ast ▁South ▁constitu ency ▁in ▁the ▁ 2