New Deputy Mayor for Wakefield is Nominated

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NEW DEPUTY MAYOR FOR WAKEFIELD NOMINATED
8 FEBRUARY 2006

From the WMDC Press and Communications Office

Wakefield's new Deputy Mayor has been nominated in advance of the Mayor Making ceremony in May.

Labour councillor for Pontefract South, Jim Nicholson, has been nominated for the role of Deputy Mayor and could take over from current deputy Councillor Darran Travis when he becomes Mayor. This will follow a vote by councillors at the May ceremony. The nomination was announced at today's (Wednesday, February 8) Council meeting.

Councillor Nicholson was first elected in 1999 to represent the Castleford and Ferry Fryston ward before the boundary change in 2004, he was elected in 2004 to represent Pontefract South. He lives in the ward with his wife Eileen, a retired senior mistress at King's High School, Pontefract, where he is currently a governor. He is also governor at Wakefield Pathways special needs school in Townville. They have a daughter, Sally-Ann, and a late son, Guy, who died in 2004.

The councillor is now retired after working for 32 years at Hicksons in Castleford. He serves on the Regeneration Board, is a nominated member on the Wakefield District Housing Board and Deputy Cabinet Member for Adults and Health.

Councillor Nicholson is the chairman of trustees for Age Concern Wakefield District and is an active member of several town action groups in Pontefract.

He said: "I am proud and honoured to have been nominated to serve as Deputy Mayor and eventually Mayor of Wakefield."

At the ceremony Councillor Darran Travis will take the chains of office as Mayor for the District in May with his wife Yvonne, the Deputy Mayoress, becoming the Mayoress. They will take over the office from Cllr David Hopkins and his wife Mrs Brigid Hopkins.

Councillor Travis was elected in 2000 and represents Altofts and Whitwood for Labour. He has two children - Lauren and Rachel - and is chairman of governors at Three Lane Ends Primary School, and Honorary President of Cystic Fibrosis Support Group. He is also a junior football referee in the Charles Rice League, a member of the West Yorkshire Fire Authority and the Humberside Regional Management Board.

Council Leader Peter Box said: "These are two very conscientious councillors who will represent the Council well in their civic duties."

Ref: PR710
08/02/2006

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