Walker to be the last chairman of outgoing council

Walker to be the last chairman of outgoing council

28 May 2014

KILLYLEAGH DUP councillor Billy Walker will become the last ever chairman of Down Council next Monday night.

The local authority goes out of business next April when it merges with its neighbour in Newry and Mourne to form one of 11 new super councils in Northern Ireland.

While councillor Walker will not serve a full 12-month term, he is nevertheless delighted to be appointed the district’s first citizen and has vowed to work for everyone.

The new chairman’s deputy is expected to be Newcastle area Ulster Unionist councillor Dessie Patterson.

Councillor Walker was first elected in 2005 taking the seat off veteran Ulster Unionist, Albert Colmer, after three previous failed attempts to secure a place on Down Council.

He stood as an Independent Loyalist in 1989 and made a bid for a council seat eight years later as an Independent Unionist. Councillor Walker fought the 2001 election for the DUP but lost out to the UUP’s Eddie Rea in a fifth seat fight. Four years later he took his place on the council and will next year celebrate a decade in local politics.

The new council chairman — who replaces the SDLP’s Maria McCarthy — started work delivering milk as an 11 year-old in his home town and spent a number of years working at Killyleagh Mill and Carpets International in Killinchy.

He subsequently became a community worker, helping people in Killyleagh with a series of issues and is delighted he has risen from the factory floor to become the district’s first citizen.

“I will be Down Council’s last ever chairman and am humbled that I have been asked by my party leader to hold this position in what is a momentous year for the local authority,” he said.

“The first chairman of Down Council when it was formed in 1973 was Ulster Unionist Eddie McVeigh and I believe it’s very fitting that a DUP councillor will be its last chairman before it merges with Newry and Mourne.”

Councillor Walker said during his term as chairman he will work for everyone in the district, regardless of colour, creed or political viewpoint.

“Party politics has to be left at the door when you are the chairman of Down Council as you are in the position of representing everyone. I look forward to the task ahead and will do my utmost for the district before the local authority is consigned to history,” he continued.

“Becoming Down Council chairman is a very special moment in my life. I am only sorry my parents are no longer here to see this honour bestowed on me. I am sure they would be very proud.”