'As mayor, I'd love for our community to come together and embrace each other's culture'

COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY ELECTS A NEW EAST STAFFORDSHIRE MAYOR

- By JONATHAN SUTTON

EAST Staffordshire borough councillors have elected a new mayor to serve for the next municipal year during their annual meeting.

Winshill ward councillor Kim Smith, who served as deputy mayor last year, was unanimously elected, and has replaced Shelagh McKiernan.

During her time as mayor, Councillor McKiernan, below, attended more than 158 events throughout the borough.

Despite breaking her hip in January, she also raised money for Sarac: Sexual Abuse and Rape Advice Centre.

Speaking after the vote of thanks, the former mayor said: “I’ve approached being the mayor as a public service and I’ve done my best to accept all the invitations I've received. I've tried to get around the borough as much as I can.

“I've also represented the borough as first citizen in other boroughs across Staffordshire and further afield at military, civic and even royal events.”