COUNCILLOR Tim Ward has been elected the new Mayor of Ringwood.
Fellow Ringwood Town Councillors voted him into the role following councillor Michael Thierry's early departure from the position.
Councillor Philip Day has taken over Councillor Ward's former role of Deputy Mayor.
They will remain at their posts for the remainder of the municipal year.
Councillor Thierry was meant to remain mayor until May but had decided to try and become the area's county councillor in this year's local elections.
He was forced to defend his decision after he was accused of leaving Ringwood in the lurch by standing down four months early.
Recent events prompted councillor Angela Wiseman to ask councillor Ward to be wary following "bad publicity" surrounding the matter, at their Full Council meeting on Wednesday (JAN 25).
Councillor Ward said: "I shall do my upmost to keep the good name of the council and not to wash any dirty linen in public."
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