Helston’s Next Mayor? Still Up in the Air!

The saga of who will be the next mayor of Helston continues. Last month, in a secret ballot, the town council caused widespread controversy by voting for Niall Devenish to take over the role in May, replacing current mayor John Boase who is coming to the end of his first year in office. Traditionally the mayor of Helston serves for two years and the vote for the second year is seen as a formality so the decision was highly unusual. Now, however, it’s reported that two town councillors have had a change of heart and Mr Boase could in fact still be voted in for a second term at the official mayor making ceremony in May.

An article in today’s Helston Packet says that the vote went seven to five in favour of Mr Devenish.  That means that if the two councillors in question, who are named in the paper by Mr Devenish as Mr and Mrs Radford-Gaby, decided to switch their vote to Mr Boase when they are called upon at mayor making, the result would swing in the current mayor’s favour.

So it would seem this is not yet a done deal and we might have to wait until May to find out who will definitely be wearing the chains for the coming year.

On a related matter it will be suggested when the council next meet that such discussions are not held in private again. Given the fallout from the closed meeting and unanswered questions, such as why it was felt another candidate should be put forward, this would make perfect sense don't you think?