Aiming to provide civic leadership for everyone, the well-known local Councillor and Alliance activist, who lives in Comber, said she would take office under the theme ‘our borough, our future’.
Councillor Deborah Girvan said: “I’m delighted to be representing the Alliance Party as the next Mayor of Ards and North Down, a position that will allow me to share my vision of an integrated, peaceful, prosperous society, representing everyone.
“With many exciting events coming up, I’m particularly looking forward to the Sea Bangor Festival, a series of events to commemorate the Centenary of the Battle of the Somme and the Borough’s participation in the Northern Ireland Year of Food and Drink 2016 in the near future.”
Elected as a Councillor for Ards West under the former Ards Borough Council in 2011, Deborah was re-elected as the Councillor for Comber in the 2014 local government elections and made an Alderman in 2015.
She added: “With so many of our young people still looking for a future outside of Northern Ireland, one of my main focuses will be on building youth initiatives, helping to give our young people a voice.
“Under the theme ‘our borough, our future, along with young people I also want to focus on the economic development of the borough. Young people are our future and the businesses of the borough are our future employers.
“To that end I want to connect and link young people with employers in our area and help to improve their employment skills and life opportunities.
“Over the next year I hope to have the opportunity to meet as many citizens as possible, from all areas of life across our great borough.”