Cllr Timothy Gaston has been co-opted to the Assembly to replace the TUV leader Jim Allister in North Antrim.
The leader of the TUV was elected as the TUV’s first Member of Parliament in the general election.
Gaston has served on Mid And East Antrim Borough Council since 2014 and was deputy mayor from 2015 to 2016.
Assembly rules mean that parties can co-opt a replacement if one of their MLAs leaves to take on another role, or resigns, without the need for a by-election.
“I am humbled to have the confidence of the local branch and party officers as I make the step from 11 years in local government to representing the people of North Antrim in the Stormont Assembly.
“I bring with me enthusiasm for delivering diligent constituency work and a hunger for ensuring the public get value for money. I leave Mid and East Antrim Borough Council knowing that there is still much work to do but resting in the knowledge that the TUV team will continue to expose the financial failings and call out the hard issues others shy away from.
“I look forward to taking up the mantle of providing that authentic voice of Traditional Unionism within Stormont that Jim has provided since first elected in 2011.
– Timothy Gaston MLA, North Antrim
Jim Allister MP said that Gaston had “proven himself as the scourge of squander and mismanagement in MEA Council and so is well equipped to step up to do the same in the Assembly.”
“Now with both a TUV MP and MLA in North Antrim we will be able to step up our all important service to the constituents of North Antrim,” he continued.
North Antrim now has a total of three co-opted MLAs.
