The Mayor of Mansfield is the directly elected local authority executive mayor of the district of Mansfield in Nottinghamshire, England. A new appointment was created from 2002 following moves made by a Mansfield-based businessman to change the governance of Mansfield after a public referendum.Mansfield businessman to make changes Mansfield Chad, local newspaper, July 2001 Retrieved 2 December 2014
Andy Abrahams was elected on 3 May 2019 by two votes from sitting incumbent Kate Allsop after two recounts of the second-preference votes.Labour wins Mayoral election by just two votes Chad (Mansfield newspaper) 3 May 2019. Retrieved 3 May 2019
The incumbent from 2002 to May 2015 was Tony Egginton, succeeded by his fellow Mansfield Independent Forum party member Kate Allsop, who stood against Egginton in 2002 as a Conservative.
From the 2015 booklet issued to all households having registered voters:Mansfield Mayoral Election, April 2015. Published by Ruth Marlow, Returning Officer, Mansfield District Council. Accessed 22 May 2015
In July 2026, Andy Abrahams, incumbent Mayor from 2019, confirmed that the position would be abolished as part of the local government reorganisation scheduled for 2028.Mayor 'emotional' as role cut under council shake-up BBC News, 29 July 2026. Retrieved 30 July 2026
History Establishment The role of elected mayor was created following a public referendum on 2 May 2002. The referendum was the culmination of a campaign led by local businessman Stewart Rickersey to have a directly elected mayor for the district. The inaugural election was scheduled for 17 October 2002. Prior to the referendum Mansfield District Council was governed by a leader and cabinet system, in which a leader of the council was elected indirectly from the largest group elected to the council. Labour councillor Jim Hawkins had been leader of the council from its creation in 1974; he did not stand for election as mayor, with Labour's candidate being the deputy leader of the council, Lorna Carter.
2002-2015: Tony Egginton Tony Egginton was Mayor of Mansfield from October 2002 until retirement in May 2015, being replaced at scheduled elections by a fellow candidate for the Mansfield Independent Forum political party, Kate Allsop. Much was said of the first Executive Mayor, but during his time in office, Mansfield struggled with local land development and many projects across the region faltered.
Egginton (in office 2002–2015) was criticised by some councillors and residents for placing too much focus on self-publicity, as opposed to publicity for the town. The issue was raised again after his prominent role in the homecoming ceremony for swimmer Rebecca Adlington after her Gold Medal successes at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
Election results 2002
2007
2011 The 2011 election was third direct election for the mayoralty of Mansfield. The sitting mayor, Tony Egginton, successfully defended his position, which he first won in 2002. On 5 May 2011 he was elected for the third time, winning in the second round of voting with the narrow majority of 67 over the Labour candidate Stephen Yemm.
2015 The 2015 election was fourth direct election for the mayoralty of Mansfield. The sitting mayor, Tony Egginton, had previously announced his intention to retire. Hucknall Despatch 19 November 2013 Retrieved 8 May 2015 On 7 May 2015 the candidates were former Labour-member turned Independent Phil Shields, Labour's Martin Lee and Mansfield Independent Forum's Kate Allsop, who after the second round of voting won from Martin Lee with a considerable majority.
2019 The 2019 election took place on 2 May 2019. The candidates were Incumbent Mayor Kate Allsop from the Mansfield Independent Forum (MIF), Conservative perennial candidate George Jabbour, and District and County Councillor Steve Garner, formerly with MIF, standing as an independent.Councillors resign from Mansfield Independent Forum Mansfield Chad, 5 October 2018. Retrieved 28 April 2019.Stephen Garner – Councillor details/Party history Nottinghamshire County Council. Retrieved 28 April 2019.Who is in the running to be Mansfield’s next mayor? Mansfield Chad, 6 April 2019. Retrieved 28 April 2019. In late March Mansfield Labour group selected a third candidate in former teacher and civil engineer Andy Abrahams, following the suspension of Cllr Sean McCallum and resignation of Paul Bradshaw. In March 2019, 2015 Mayoral Candidate and former District Councillor Philip Shields announced his intention to run in 2019.
2023 The 2023 mayoral election took place on 4 May 2023.2023 Mayoral Election - District Council elections - Parish Council elections Mansfield District Council. Retrieved 16 March 2023 Final candidates declared in early April were Andy Abrahams (Labour), Mick Barton (Mansfield Independents), Andre Camilleri (Conservative), Karen Seymour (Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition) and Julie Margaret Tasker-Love-Birks (Independent).Row between Mansfield's Mayor and MP over £20million London flats spend Nottinghamshire Live, 15 March 2023. Retrieved 16 March 2023Full list of candidates confirmed for Mansfield District Council elections and mayoral poll Notts TV, 6 April 2023. Retrieved 12 April 2023 Both the Conservative and Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition candidates' campaigns included potentially seeking to abolish the position of executive mayor, subject to a successful public referendum.Mansfield mayoral candidate vows to axe role if elected Chad, 20 January 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2023A Mansfield and North Nottinghamshire Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition candidate has joined the race to be mayor of Mansfield Chad, 14 March 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2023
Labour's Andy Abrahams was re-elected with a significant margin of over 4,000 votes, in contrast with his previous win by two votes.Labour's Andy Abrahams re-elected as Mansfield's executive mayor Chad, 5 April 2023. Retrieved 5 April 2023
The voting system was first past the post – changing from the supplementary vote system used previously.Changes to the voting system for mayoral and PCC elections The Electoral Commission, 2 February 2023. Retrieved 27 March 2023
See also Mansfield District Council area Mansfield (UK Parliament constituency)
References