Mayor of Mansfield


The Mayor of Mansfield is the executive mayor of the district of Mansfield in Nottinghamshire, England. A new appointment was created following moves made by a Mansfield-based businessman to change the governance of Mansfield after a public referendum.
Andy Abrahams was elected on 3 May 2019 by two votes from sitting incumbent Kate Allsop after two recounts of the second-preference votes.
The incumbent from 2002 to May, 2015 was Tony Egginton, succeeded by his fellow Mansfield Independent Forum party member Kate Allsop, who stood against Egginton in 2002 as a Conservative.
From the 2015 booklet issued to all households having registered voters:

An elected Mayor is different to a ceremonial Mayor or Leader of the council as they are elected by the people of Mansfield district.
It is the job of the Mayor to represent the council and its residents, make key decisions on policies, services and how the council spends its money.
The Mayor is supported by a Cabinet of councillors who help him or her develop and implement these policies.

Establishment

The role of elected mayor was created following a public referendum on 2 May 2002. The referendum was the culmination of a campaign led by local businessman Stewart Rickersey to have a directly elected mayor for the district. The inaugural election was scheduled for 17 October 2002. Prior to the referendum Mansfield District Council was governed by a leader and cabinet system, in which a leader of the council was elected indirectly from the largest group elected to the council.

Election results

2002

2007

2011

The 2011 election was third direct election for the mayoralty of Mansfield. The sitting mayor, Tony Egginton, successfully defended his position, which he first won in 2002. On 5 May 2011 he was elected for the third time, winning in the second round of voting with the narrow majority of 67 over the Labour candidate Stephen Yemm.

2015

The 2015 election was fourth direct election for the mayoralty of Mansfield. The sitting mayor, Tony Egginton, had previously announced his intention to retire. On 7 May 2015 the candidates were former Labour-member turned Independent Phil Shields, Labour's Martin Lee and Mansfield Independent Forum's Kate Allsop, who after the second round of voting won from Martin Lee with a considerable majority.

2019

The 2019 election took place on 2 May 2019. The candidates were Incumbent Mayor Kate Allsop from the Mansfield Independent Forum, Conservative perennial candidate George Jabbour, and District and County Councillor Steve Garner, formerly with MIF, standing as an independent. In late March Mansfield Labour group selected a third candidate in former teacher and civil engineer Andy Abrahams, following the suspension of Cllr Sean McCallum and resignation of Paul Bradshaw. In March 2019, 2015 Mayoral Candidate and former District Councillor Philip Shields announced his intention to run in 2019.