Councillor Jon Joughin has been re-elected to serve as the Mayor of Douglas for the 2019-20 municipal year.

Members of the council voted unanimously to elect Mr Joughin for a second term as mayor at a council meeting last week.

Proposing the nomination, Ian Clague (Victoria) said that as mayor, Mr Joughin had represented the council, the borough and the island ’with great dignity’ and presided over council meetings in a ’fair and firm’ manner.

Mr Clague said 2020 would be ’a crucial year’ for the council, with membership set to be reduced from 18 to 12 and the number of wards from six to four.

’It is therefore fitting the office of mayor is filled by a person who has the complete trust and respect of not only the council but also of the entire community,’ he said.

Seconding the nomination, Claire Wells (Hills) said ’his genuine commitment to do what is best for the people of Douglas shines through.’

She praised him and his wife, the Mayoress Angela Joughin, for their commitment and enthusiasm.

Mr Joughin said he was ’excited’ to have a further opportunity, along with Mrs Joughin, to promote Douglas and to ’lend visibility to the many individuals, volunteer organisations and businesses that contribute to making Douglas the very special place it is.’

He said ’the opportunity to meet so many devoted volunteers, all working hard to transform people’s lives’ made him want to continue in the role.

He added: ’Angela and I have been incredibly moved by the selflessness, dedication and passion of those working in charitable organisations, and we look forward to doing what we can to lend visibility to a number of local good causes.’

The two principal beneficiaries of the 2019-20 charity appeal would be Housing Matters and Heroes on the Water Isle of Man.

Debbie Pitts (Derby) will serve as deputy mayor and Janet Thommeny (Athol) as deputy mayoress.

Monsignor John Devine will continue as mayor’s chaplain.