LIB Dem Cllr Wendy Johnson has been elected as the 136th Mayor of Warrington – and only the 11th woman to hold the office, following in the footsteps of retiring Mayor Cllr Karen Mundry.
But with Labour’s Maureen Creaghan elected as her deputy, the balance is gradually being re-addressed at the town hall and when the deputy becomes Mayor next year it will be the first time in Warrington’s history that three women have served consecutively as Mayor.
Cllr Johnson, who represents Lymm North & Thelwall, has chosen Warrington Disability Partnership, Walton Lea Project, MacIntyre and Contact the Elderly as her charities for the year.
She will be focusing on two themes in particular, tolerance and homelessness,
Born in Warrington at Great Sankey, she moved to Thelwall aged one.
In nominating Cllr Johnson, fellow Cllr Bob Barr said it was quite appropriate that she was becoming Mayor at the time the Golden Gates were being renovated. Her grandfather had been a planner at the town hall and was involved in the project the last time the gates had been restored.
She was first elected to the council in 1998 and had been inspired by the late Cllrs Ted Lafferty and Dr Barbara Mawer.
Cllr Johnson said, “I have been a long-serving council member since I first joined in 1998. To now succeed to the role of Mayor of Warrington is an honour.
“I look forward to the year ahead and being able to support the charities under the Mayor’s Appeal. I’m excited to get out and meet all the different residents of Warrington and to take on the new responsibilities of the mayoral role.”
Her sister, Beverley Hallam, will be the Mayor’s consort and support her throughout her mayoral year.
