The TUV have announced that 23 year old Anna Henry will be co-opted to fill the Bannside council seat vacated by Timothy Gaston after he stepped up to fill Jim Allister’s Assembly seat following the TUV leader’s election to Westminster.
Speaking about taking up the role Anna said:
“I am honoured to be chosen to take up this role and represent the area I have lived in and been proud to call home my entire life. My father represented the area until he stood down in 2019.
“I am aware that I have a high standard to live up to as I fill the seat occupied by Timothy since 2014 but, with the assistance of a strong TUV team on the council, I am confident that I will be able to hit the ground running.
“I look forward to serving the people of Bannside alongside Alderman Stewart McDonald for the best of my ability.
“I also want to thank those who voted for me last year in the council election. On that occasion, I missed out on a seat by less than 30 votes. The growth of TUV in Mid and East Antrim has now presented an opportunity to deliver on the promises I made to the people of Bannside and that’s something I am very excited about.”
Timothy Gaston MLA added:
“I’m delighted that a young woman of Anna’s ability will be representing the people of Bannside on council. Her experience in business – both practically through her employment in a local car dealership and by way of her studies at Ulster University where she recently graduated with a business studies degree – will prove invaluable.
“There is much work still to be done on Council with major questions needing answered regarding how the unaudited accounts show the large forecasted deficit has turned into a healthy surplus.
“Providing scrutiny within Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has never been more paramount than it is now and I am confident that the TUV team on the council will provide it.”
Party leader Jim Allister KC MP said:
“Anna is part of the next generation of unionism which is determined to take a stand for the Union as well as deliver on the issues on the ground which are so important to local people. I look forward to working with Anna as part of the TUV North Antrim team to deliver for local people.”
Anna is well known in the local band scene as a member of Ballykeel Loyal Sons of Ulster and Milltown Accordion Band as well as being a member of Sister Turtle Memorial WLOL 14. She is secretary to Cullybackey Royal British Legion.