Mayor, Deputy Mayor, elected at Kildare-Newbridge MD

Joe Boland, Manager of the Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District with members of the MD this morning: Cllrs Peggy O'Dwyer, Suzanne Doyle, Tracey O'Dwyer, Rob Power, Mark Stafford (Mayor), Kevin Duffy, Fiona McLoughlin Healy, Chris Pender, Patricia Ryan, and Anne Connolly. (Cllr Noel Heavey was unavoidably absent.)

The first Mayor of the New Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District is Cllr Mark Stafford, Fine Gael, and the Deputy Mayor is Cllr Peggy O'Dwyer of Fine Gael, writes Brian Byrne.

Both were elected at the first annual meeting of the MD this morning where they were welcomed by Joe Boland, Director of Services, Kildare County Council, who also has the Council responsibility for the Municipal District.

Cllr Stafford was proposed by party colleague Cllr Kevin Duffy, FG, and seconded by Cllr Rob Power, FF. Cllr O'Dwyer was proposed by party colleague Cllr Tracey O'Dwyer and seconded by Cllr Suzanne Doyle, FF.

Accepting the position, Cllr Stafford congratulated all the members on their recent election, especially Cllrs Fiona Healy and Suzanne Doyle for their poll-topping performance.

He paid tribute to previous members whom he had worked with, and singled out Sean Power and Paddy Kennedy who have retired.

"Sean Power was a TD, Minister of State, and a Councillor, who had spent a lifetime in politics," he said. "You had to have a certain steel to achieve that, but he was always kind to councillors, especially to new members. Paddy Kennedy was a gentleman to his fingertips, who helped councillors of all parties and none."

He asked the members who have served in the previous Council to do the same for all the new members of the MD. "It's a bit daunting for the first time, but my door will always be open to all."

The MD Manager Joe Boland agreed that there is much to take in for new members, but added that there is 'a lot of very exciting talent' in the new District councillors, with some very exciting projects for them to become involved with.

The Mayor was elected to be the MD's representative on the Council's Corporate Policy Group for the year, the only outstanding appointment to be made by the members of the district.

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