Mayor
The 'Mayor of Derry', legally the 'Mayor of Londonderry' is an honorary position bestowed upon a Citizen of Derry, who is in practice a member of Derry City Council, chosen by his or her peers on the Council to serve a one year term. The current Mayor is Kevin Campbell of Sinn Féin, while Mary Hamilton of the Ulster Unionist Party.
The post has a long history. A provost was appointed in the initial city charter of 1604. In 1613, this post was replaced with that of mayor, with John Rowley being the first to serve. The City charter of 1665 which provided:
| “ | And further we will, and by these presents for us our heirs and successors do grant and ordain, that for ever hereafter there be and shall be within the city of Londonderry aforesaid one of the more honest and discreet citizens of the said city, or of the more honest and discreet inhabitants within the liberty of the same, in form hereafter in these presents mentioned, from time to time to be elected, who shall be and called the mayor of the said city. | ” |
During much of its history, it has been held by Unionists (largely due to the practice of gerrymandering), but in recent years, the majority of mayors have been nationalists, reflecting the make-up of the city's current population. In the 1990s the post was alternated between nationalist and unionist councillors regardless of the size of the vote of either side.
From 1921 until 1969, the Mayor was automatically entitled to a seat in the Senate of Northern Ireland.
Read more about this topic: Derry City Council
Famous quotes containing the word mayor:
“The populations of Pwllheli, Criccieth,
Portmadoc, Borth, Tremadoc, Penrhyndeudraeth,
Were all assembled. Criccieth’s mayor addressed them
First in good Welsh and then in fluent English,”
—Robert Graves (1895–1985)
“Without infringing on the liberty we so much boast, might we not ask our professional Mayor to call upon the smokers, have them register their names in each ward, and then appoint certain thoroughfares in the city for their use, that those who feel no need of this envelopment of curling vapor, to insure protection may be relieved from a nuisance as disgusting to the olfactories as it is prejudicial to the lungs.”
—Harriot K. Hunt (1805–1875)
“when Mrs Kindhead comes to collect for the Community Chest
grab her and tell her There are unfavorable omens in the sky!
And when the mayor comes to get my vote tell him
When are you going to stop people killing whales!”
—Gregory Corso (b. 1930)