County Council will not be Opting for Grandiose `Mayor' Status

Public representatives with the title of `mayor' are likely to `philander around like glorified peacocks' and could even be wearing tiaras, according to one member of Wicklow County Council.

Would the Council Chairman wear a tiara?

The remark from Labour councillor, Tommy Cullen came during a discussion at Monday's meeting of the local authority on the option of adopting the title of Mayor and Deputy Mayor for the Chairman and Vice-Chairman.

Councillor Cullen said that as a republican and a socialist he was against the grandiose title of Mayor which would only encourage privilege and snobbery. I prefer the title of Chairman that arose out of our struggle for democracy', he added.

He was backed up by other members who felt that Chairman was the proper title although Councillor Pat Vance felt it should be up to each individual Chairman at the annual general meeting to decided which title he or she prefers.

It was also pointed out that Wicklow Town Council has decided to adopt the title of Mayor for the Chairman and if the Co. Council made a similar decision then it would cause utter confusion across the county.