McCarthy new chair of council

McCarthy new chair of council

5 June 2013

ROWALLANE SDLP councillor Maria McCarthy will become Down Council’s youngest ever chairman next week.

The 29 year-old Crossgar woman takes over the reins from Independent councillor Mickey Coogan who started his year in office last June as a member of Sinn Fein before quitting the party last November.

Councillor McCarthy, who is the council’s current vice-chairman and was co-opted to replace Miss Ritchie in 2009, currently works in the South Down MP’s constituency office in Downpatrick.

Councillor McCarthy fought her first local government election in May 2011 and will be the fourth female member of the SDLP to be elected the district’s first citizen. She will be following in the footsteps of Margaret Ritchie, Anne McAleenan and Carmel O’Boyle.

Next Monday night’s annual meeting is also expected to see Downpatrick SDLP councillor Gareth Sharvin nominated as council vice-chairman.

Councillor Sharvin, who is 24, was co-opted to the council in February last year.

The make-up of the local authority’s various statutory committees will also be determined at next week’s annual meeting.