A COUNCILLOR who has served for two decades has been sworn in as Warrington’s 136th mayor.

Cllr Wendy Johnson (LD – Lymm North and Thelwall) officially became the first citizen of the borough during the annual council meeting at the Town Hall on Monday.

She takes over the ceremonial chains from Cllr Karen Mundry (LAB – Latchford East) for 2019-20.

Cllr Maureen Creaghan (LAB – Poulton South) will serve as deputy.

It means Warrington will have three female mayors in a row for the first time when she becomes mayor next year.

Cllr Johnson has chosen four charities to support through the mayor’s appeal during her year – Warrington Disability Partnership, Walton Lea Project, MacIntyre and Contact the Elderly.

And she will be focusing on two themes in particular, tolerance and homelessness.

She said: “I have been a long-serving council member since I first joined in 1998.

Warrington Guardian:

“To now succeed to the role of mayor of Warrington is an honour.

“I look forward to the year ahead and being able to support the charities under the mayor’s appeal.

“I’m excited to get out and meet all the different residents of Warrington and to take on the new responsibilities of the mayoral role.”

Cllr Bob Barr (LD – Lymm North and Thelwall), leader of the town’s Liberal Democrats, said he was delighted to propose Cllr Johnson as the next mayor.

He added: “It is particularly appropriate that she will preside as mayor for the restoration of the Golden Gates.

“Her grandfather, a planner in the town, was responsible for the last restoration and, it is said, that he slept with the gold leaf in a case under his bed.

“I hasten to add, for safekeeping not as a perk of the job!

“I am delighted to propose Wendy Johnson to be the first female Liberal Democrat mayor since Celia Jordan had the role and I am pleased that she was preceded by Karen and will be succeeded by Maureen.

“We are moving in the right direction to redress the gender balance in our affairs.”