Councillor Andy Cooper has been nominated to be the new Mayor of Stafford Borough. 

He was put forward to be the borough’s ‘first citizen’ at a meeting of the council on Tuesday (21 February). He will take the chains of office in May following the local elections. 

The Staffordshire born and bred councillor lives in the village of Great Haywood just outside the county town. 

After accepting the nomination, Councillor Cooper said: “There is no greater honour for me than to be given the opportunity to be mayor of the county town and borough. I’m looking forward to working for the benefit of the whole community.”  

He was nominated for the role by Councillor Peter Jones and will take over from the current Mayor, Councillor Philip Leason MBE, shortly after the polls in May. 

Councillor Cooper was elected as a member of Stafford Borough Council to represent the Milford Ward in 2019. He was previously the Parish Council Chairman for Colwich. While at the parish council he helped to revitalise the local Twinning Association, and was part of launching the first Parish Youth Council in Staffordshire - to introduce and encourage youngsters from 11 to 18 years old into local politics. 

Councillor Cooper is a keen walker, a Lay Reader with the Church of England for the Mid-Trent Benefice, and a keen Morris Dancer with Stafford Morris. 

Now retired, his background is in engineering and worked in the food and drink industry since the 1980’s. 

Councillor Tony Nixon was nominated for the role of Deputy Mayor.

Press Release No 6008