SDLP Faughan Councillor Jim McKeever has been selected to serve as the next Deputy Mayor of Derry and Strabane District Council.
Cllr McKeever (pictured) will take over the role held for the past year by the DUP’s Thomas Kerrigan.
Cllr McKeever will become the new Deputy Mayor at the Council’s annual general meeting to be held on Monday week, 6 June, when the DUP’s Hilary McClintock will become Mayor, succeeding Sinn Fein’s Elisha McCallion.
Cllr McKeever said he was “ honoured” to have been selected by the SDLP to serve as Deputy Mayor.
He added: “I look forward to working with our incoming Mayor Hilary McClintock to address the needs of all of our people.
“Our Council area continues to see the worst figures in regards to unemployment and economic inactivity and this is the major challenge facing public representatives.
“Our people are rightly worried about the continued stagnation of our local economy and continued mass emigration of our best and brightest young people.
“In my new role I hope to advance a number of projects already in the pipeline that will promote job creation and enhance the well-being of our young people.”
Cllr McKeever added: “I will work as part of a strong SDLP team with Colum Eastwood, Mark H Durkan and Daniel McCrossan in the Assembly, our MP Mark Durkan and all of our local councillors to deliver a better future for all of our people.”
Chairman of the SDLP Derry and Strabane Council Group, Cllr Martin Reilly said he was “delighted” Cllr McKeever had been selected to serve as Deputy Mayor in the coming year.
He added: “As a councillor he has served with distinction in numerous positions, chairing numerous council committees as well as serving as a Commissioner of the Londonderry Port & Harbour Board.
“His experience leaves him well equipped for this role and he will enjoy the support of all his SDLP colleagues.”
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