COLNE Valley councillor David Ridgway will be the next Mayor of Kirklees.
At a meeting last night, Kirklees Liberal Democrat Group selected Clr Ridgway to be their mayoral candidate for the 2012/13 municipal year. He will take up office at the annual meeting of Kirklees Council on Wednesday, May 23.
Clr Ridgway, 65, was first elected to Kirklees Council in May 1996 and held his seat in last week’s local government elections by more than 700 votes.
After a career in financial services, he was involved in running the Keys Restaurant for four years with daughter Vicki. More recently, he has been involved in setting up a business which aims to bring high speed broadband to West Yorkshire. He is married with three children.
Clr Ridgway said: “I am really pleased to have the opportunity to serve the people of Kirklees as their mayor.
“Although I appreciate that the Liberal Democrats have had a difficult electoral period since joining the coalition government, I do feel that this is a real opportunity to demonstrate the real connection that we as a group have with local people.
“Naturally, I feel great sorrow that this opportunity has arisen because my great friend and colleague Christine Iredale lost her seat last Thursday. I will, of course, do my utmost to perform to the best of my abilities in her place.”
Golcar Lib-Dem councillor Christine Iredale was due to become mayor later this month, having served as deputy mayor for the last year. However, she lost her seat to Labour councillor Paul Salveson.
Councillor Kath Pinnock paid tribute to Clr Iredale last night.
“I’ve spoken to Christine and I have a huge amount of sympathy for her,” she said.
“Christine would have been an excellent mayor but she’s taken this setback on the chin and is ready to start fighting for the Lib-Dems in Golcar in a different capacity.”
Meanwhile, the Conservatives have chosen Clr Martyn Bolt to serve as deputy Mayor of Kirklees in 2012/13.
The Mirfield man will then become mayor in 2013/14.
Clr Bolt was selected on Tuesday night after the Conservatives’ original choice was defeated in last week’s election.
Adrian Murphy lost his Kirkburton seat to the Greens by just 23 votes.
Clr Bolt said yesterday: “It’s a great shame that Adrian lost the election and I hope to see him during my two years in office.”
The 54-year-old married father-of-three spoke of his delight to be selected for the position.
“It’s a great honour and I’m grateful to my colleagues for choosing me,” he said.
“It was not something I even thought about when I first became a councillor 14 years ago.
“I believe it will be the first time that anyone from Mirfield has been Mayor of Kirklees so it’s an honour for myself and my family and for the town.”
Clr Bolt, who works for the Cyclists’ Touring Club in York, is well-known for his enthusiasm for bicycles.
He said: “I don’t think the civic office will be foregoing its normal form of transport but I will be supporting cycling organisations throughout the borough.”
Clr Bolt, who served as Mayor of Mirfield Council in 2004/05, said he hadn’t decided on a charity for term in office next year.
“I will have a look at what’s been supported in the past and I will be taking advice because there are a lot of worthy causes,” he said.
