Candidates should not abuse the office of mayor
IT has been brought to my attention that literature currently in circulation locally in Huntingdon, promoting a candidate in the forthcoming district council elections, includes images of the Mayor of Huntingdon. The office of town mayor locally can be tr
IT has been brought to my attention that literature currently in circulation locally in Huntingdon, promoting a candidate in the forthcoming district council elections, includes images of the Mayor of Huntingdon.
The office of town mayor locally can be traced back to 1206 and is steeped in a depth of tradition, which Huntingdon Town Council values and continues to support today. The term "Corporation", in use locally until 1974, symbolised the fact that the people of the town were considered part of the council and therefore, as first citizen, the mayor symbolised the voice of the whole town and gave it an identity.
It follows that the mayor is non-political and seeks to be impartial in local controversy. As the council's elected chairman, the successful mayor retains the respect of both members of the council and their electorate by being fair and objective at all times.
Against this background, it should be clear that neither the Mayor of Huntingdon nor the council would knowingly give support to the political campaigns of any candidate standing for election. Local people should be assured of Huntingdon Town Council's stance in the circumstances and we hope that future electoral campaigns will show due regard for the principles upheld today in the tradition of mayor.
KAREN CAMERON
Town Clerk
Most Read
- 1 Police searching for missing man discover body
- 2 Two-day closure set for B661 between Great Staughton and Grafham Water
- 3 Eight Huntingdon children handed anti-social behaviour interventions
- 4 A1 set for night-time and weekend closures until August
- 5 Meet the Sassy Lassies cycling group encouraging women in Huntingdonshire to ride
- 6 A "determined" Huntingdon man takes on Everest after a double lung transplant
- 7 Recap: Lorry and car crash at A141-A1307 junction in Huntingdon
- 8 Suspected case of bird flu in swan reported to DEFRA
- 9 New homes plan for Huntingdonshire village
- 10 Police check home of 101-year-old animal rights patron for stolen beaglesĀ
Huntingdon Town Council