WELLINGTON Town Council has elected Cllr Marcus Barr as the new Mayor of the town.

A paper ballot was taken among members of Wellington Town Council on Wednesday, May 3, evening and Cllr Barr defeated fellow Mayoral candidate, Cllr Janet Lloyd, by ten votes to five.

Cllr Barr was congratulated and presented with the chain of office by out-going Mayor, Cllr Mark Lithgow.

“I would like to thank everyone for their support over the past couple of years and I would like to wish the new Mayor the very best of luck,” said Cllr Lithgow. 

Councillors congratulated Cllr Barr on his election and thanked Cllr Lithgow for his efforts as Mayor.

Cllr Andrew Govier said: “I would like to offer my congratulations to Marcus on becoming Mayor and pay tribute to Mark for his service to the town.

“Mark started as Mayor in difficult times during the Covid-19 pandemic, but he has represented this town very well at events in Wellington and beyond.”

Cllr Govier also thanked Cllr Lithgow’s wife, Sarah, for all she had done during the past two years, along with the Deputy Mayor, Cllr Nancy Brace-Powell, who was stepping down from the role.

Cllr John Thorne said it was a really difficult choice in deciding on who to vote for between Cllrs Barr and Lloyd to take on the role of Mayor.

“We have always had councillors who have stepped up to the role and served the town really well and done us proud,” he said. “Mark has served the town over the past couple of years very well and I am sure Marcus will follow on in that tradition.”

Cllr Catherine Govier was elected unopposed as the new Deputy Mayor of Wellington.

The new Mayor, Cllr Barr, said he wanted to make things “more informal” and would in future be referring to councillors by their first name.