Cllr Dee Simson elected as Mayor of Brighton & Hove for the year ahead at full council on Thursday, May 17.
Cllr Simson was first elected as a conservative councillor in 1999 and represents Woodingdean Ward. She is keen to hear from residents, charities, organisations and businesses about their activities across the city.
To find out more about the Mayor’s role and how to invite her to an event, click here:
The mayor’s four chosen charities this year are The Martlets Hospice, Rockinghorse, Off the Fence and Grace Eyre Foundation.
Cllr Simson said: “I am immensely privileged and honoured to be chosen to represent the people of Brighton & Hove. This is the city I love. I’ve dedicated my life to public service here. I was born and bred in Woodingdean where I’m now seeing my children and grandchildren grow up too. I look forward to celebrating the many achievements, great and small, happening all year round in this amazing city as I proudly and humbly take on this highest civic office as Mayor for Brighton & Hove.”
Cllr Alex Phillips, the Green Councillor for Regency Ward, was appointed as Deputy Mayor.
The Mayor of Brighton and Hove is elected by fellow city councillors from all parties and is not elected by city residents. She will serve as mayor for one year until the next Annual Council Meeting in May 2019 and be supported during her mayoral year by her husband Paul, who takes the role of Mayoral Consort.
The mayor is the first citizen of Brighton & Hove and undertakes an important ceremonial role in and outside the city. However, this role is different from some mayors and lord mayors such as the elected Mayor of London. The mayor of Brighton & Hove is not directly elected by the people and therefore holds no direct power.
The mayor is politically neutral in carrying out all of their mayoral duties.