WARRINGTON’S first ever Muslim Mayor, Cllr Faisal Rashid, has officially been elected at the annual meeting of Warrington Borough Council.
He was elected as Warrington’s 133rd Mayor after being proposed by Labour group and council leader Cllr Terry O’Neill and jointly seconded by Tory leader Cllr Sheila Woodyatt and Lib Dem leader Cllr Bob Barr, securing unanimous cross-party support.
Married to Aleeza, he has a Masters degree in Business Administration.
In proposing Cllr Rashid as Mayor, Cllr O’Neill, recalled his early days in politics, when he made the mistake of delivering election posters in the Lovely Lane area of Bewsey and Whitecross, which caused great confusion. He had to take them down and put them back up in the old Whittle Hall ward.
“He also insisted on showing me how to fold and deliver election leaflets. The first thing you could see was this cute, chubby cheeked individual – but he lost so much weight delivering them nobody recognised him!”
On a serious note Cllr O’Neill said Cllr Rashid’s goal was to see “Warrington flourish” and he would be introducing the first Mayoral Achievement Awards.
In seconding Cllr Rashid, Cllr Woodyatt described Cllr Rashid as an “excellent hard working committed local councillor,” who has “done a lot of good work and deserved the very special honour of becoming Warrington’s first Muslim Mayor.”
Cllr Barr said it was a pleasure to see Cllr Rashid take office and celebrate the diversity of Warrington.
Cllr Rashid has more than 15 years commercial experience in the financial services sector currently working at the Nat West Bank in Warrington as a business manager.
He was first elected as a Councillor in Warrington in May 2011 and Parish Councillor in 2012. He says his main purpose of entering into politics is to make a difference in the local community where he lives and help to transform better quality of life.
He is passionate about improving lives and building a stronger integrated community with acceptance, full of peace, love and harmony devoid of prejudice about colour, race and religion.
The Mayor and Mayoress with their attendants
Well done Faisal – a great achievement https://t.co/iQrgjsF6tf
— Kate Davies (@katedavies65) May 23, 2016
Congratulations @FaisalRashid6 I look forward to helping you promote our great town during your term in office 👍 https://t.co/Urf7SHWv33
— Gary Skentelbery (@GarySkent) May 23, 2016
5 Comments
Congratulations and all the very best in your Mayoral year Faisal
Congratulations on being the first Muslim Mayor and 133rd Mayor of Warrington. Mr and Mrs Settle wish Faisal and Aleeza best wishes and every success in the coming twelve months.
I hope you don’t become the token Muslim
Qironic that cllr Rashid is ” passionate about improving lives and building a stronger integrated community with acceptance, full of peace, love and harmony devoid of prejudice about colour, race and religion.” and yet everyone congratulating him seems to delight in pointing out he is a muslim???
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