Cllr Padraig Fleming has been elected as the Laois Cathaoirleach for the next 12 months at Laois County Hall this afternoon.
The Fianna Fáil councillor, who represents the Graiguecullen-Portarlington District defeated Cllr Ben Brennan by 13 votes to 4.
Cllr Fleming was joined by friends, family and party supporters in the Council chambers as he assumed the role, eight years after first being elected to the Council.
He welcomed his brother Sean, a current Laois TD, as well as former TD and Minister Liam Hyland. He also welcomed former councillors Theresa Mulhare, Marty Rohan and Mary Wheatley and Senator Jennifer Murnane.
Cllr Fleming takes over from Cllr Tom Mulhall, who had served in the role for the past 12 months. The Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil parties had entered into an agreement that sees them share the chair over the five-year term.
“To be the first citizen of a county of 85,000 is a rare privilege,” said Cllr Fleming. “We have many challenges to meet head on,” he added prioritising housing, job creation and the survival of 24/7 emergency services at Portlaoise Hospital.
“Laois is a county of fantastic community spirit and can do attitude. From Clonaslee to Cullohill, from Ballickmoyler to Borris-in-Ossory, we can witness great work being done.”
Cllr Fleming thanked his wife Catherine, daughters Avril, Rachel and Stephanie, son-in-law John and grand-daughter Evie.
On Cllr Fleming’s election to the top job, long-serving Fianna Fáil councillor Jerry Lodge said he was “extremely hard-working and well capable”. “He’s extremely diligent and like a dog with a bone when he’s pursuing something.”
Cllr Willie Aird, a member of the council since 1979, was elected as vice-chairman, defeating Cllr Caroline Dwan-Stanley 13-4.
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