Councillor Gillian McCollum has been co-opted to fill the Holywood and Clandeboye District Electoral Area (DEA) vacancy after David Rossiter stepped down from the council last month.
Former Alliance Party councillor David Rossiter stepped down from his seat on Ards and North Down Borough Council in September and left the Alliance Party on Saturday, 12 October.
BBC News reported that he quit the party “as he can no longer support a party that has not embraced the possibility of a new Ireland”.
It is also understood that he started a new job and deemed it incompatible with his council role.
Cllr Gillian McCollum was elected to the Bangor East and Donaghadee District Electoral Area (DEA) on Ards and North Down Council in the 2023 local elections, but she has been moved to the Holywood and Clandeboye DEA to replace Rossiter.
In a statement, the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland, Dr David Marshall, said: “Gillian McCollum had been returned to fill the vacancy in Holywood and Clandeboye District Electoral Area in Ards and North Down Borough Council.”
This will create a vacancy to be filled in the Bangor East and Donaghadee DEA.
Christine Creighton also stepped down from her Bangor West seat on the council at the weekend, meaning there are now two vacant Alliance seats on Ards and North Down Borough Council.
The Alliance Party are yet to release a statement surrounding the move.
Update 15 October 2024
In a statement, Alliance said: “The Alliance Party has announced Gillian McCollum as its new Councillor for Holywood and Clandeboye, as the party also welcomed John Hennessy as the new Councillor for Bangor East and Donaghadee.
“Councillor McCollum replaces David Rossiter – who informed Alliance he was stepping down from his role last month due to gaining new employment.
“Following her selection Ms McCollum said: “Alliance provides strong representation across North Down and I’m excited to continue to work to deliver for everyone locally and representing the people of Holywood and Clandeboye, a place I proudly call my home.”
“A new face within the Alliance North Down team, John said he was honoured to represent the Bangor East and Donaghadee area, having spent most of his professional life in the area.
“He added: “I’m absolutely delighted to be joining Councillor Hannah Irwin in delivering the vital work Alliance has been delivering in the area. I’m passionate about what we can do to help local people and am looking forward to getting out into the community to hear directly from local people.”
