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Rodgers gets city's top civic job Rodgers gets city's top civic job
(about 1 hour later)
Ulster Unionist Jim Rodgers has been elected as Belfast's new lord mayor.Ulster Unionist Jim Rodgers has been elected as Belfast's new lord mayor.
Mr Rodgers, a councillor for the Victoria Ward, was previously the city's civic head in 2001. He succeeds the SDLP's Pat McCarthy in the post.Mr Rodgers, a councillor for the Victoria Ward, was previously the city's civic head in 2001. He succeeds the SDLP's Pat McCarthy in the post.
He pledged to do what was best for the city and its citizens - regardless of religion or race - during his term of office.He pledged to do what was best for the city and its citizens - regardless of religion or race - during his term of office.
"I want to assure every member of this council that I will be an impartial lord mayor," he said."I want to assure every member of this council that I will be an impartial lord mayor," he said.
"I will do what's best for the council and also for this great city of ours, regardless of the person's religion, colour, class and creed."I will do what's best for the council and also for this great city of ours, regardless of the person's religion, colour, class and creed.
"It is vitally important we carry on that work that's been done for many years.""It is vitally important we carry on that work that's been done for many years."
There had been speculation that a Sinn Fein councillor would become the party's second lord mayor of the city.There had been speculation that a Sinn Fein councillor would become the party's second lord mayor of the city.
Although it is the largest party it does not have a majority and needed the support of other parties to get their candidate, Tierna Cunningham, elected.Although it is the largest party it does not have a majority and needed the support of other parties to get their candidate, Tierna Cunningham, elected.
Party angry
However, the SDLP gave their support to Mr Rodgers at Monday's council meeting.However, the SDLP gave their support to Mr Rodgers at Monday's council meeting.
The SDLP's Bernie Kelly was elected deputy mayor after receiving support from the UUP and some DUP backing. Sinn Fein's Paul Maskey expressed anger at the SDLP for not backing his party's candidate.
"The decision lies at the behest of the SDLP," he said.
"We have met with the SDLP over many weeks to discuss the mayorality of this council and yet the Ulster Unionists come up 30 minutes before this council meeting and cut a deal."
However, the SDLP's Alban Maginnis said republicans had voted against two of their candidates in the past, including outgoing Lord Mayor Pat McCarthy.
"What Sinn Fein are complaining about is not the fact that the SDLP rotates but rather the sequence that the SDLP rotates and they want to dictate that and we are saying that we will make our own minds up about the sequence."
He added that they would seriously consider supporting a Sinn Fein candidate next year.The SDLP's Bernie Kelly was elected deputy mayor after receiving support from the UUP and some DUP backing.
Sinn Fein's Alex Maskey, now an assembly member, was the party's first lord mayor in the history of the city in 2002.Sinn Fein's Alex Maskey, now an assembly member, was the party's first lord mayor in the history of the city in 2002.
The first lord mayor of Belfast was Daniel Dixon, who was elected in 1892.The first lord mayor of Belfast was Daniel Dixon, who was elected in 1892.
Meanwhile, in Ballymena the DUP's Maurice Mills was elected mayor with the SDLP's PJ McEvoy the new deputy mayor.Meanwhile, in Ballymena the DUP's Maurice Mills was elected mayor with the SDLP's PJ McEvoy the new deputy mayor.