Dorothy Thornhill

Dorothy Thornhill
Mayor of Watford
Incumbent
Assumed office May 2002
Preceded by	New Office
Personal details
Born	26 May 1955 (1955-05-26) (age 56) Tenby, Pembrokeshire, Wales
Political party	Liberal Democrats
Website	[1]

Dorothy Thornhill (born 26 May 1955) is the first directly elected mayor of Watford, Hertfordshire, England. She was the Liberal Democrats' first directly elected mayor, and was also the first female directly elected mayor in the United Kingdom. She has been Mayor of Watford since May 2002, being re-elected in May 2006, and in May 2010 she was re-elected for a third term.

Political career

In May 2002, Dorothy Thornhill became the first elected mayor of Watford Borough with a majority of over 8000 after counting second choice votes.^[1]

Thornhill increased her majority when she was re-elected as mayor in May 2006, gaining more than 50% of the vote in the first round, with a majority of over 7000.^[2]

Thornhill was ranked the 41st most influential Liberal Democrat in the country, in an article by the Daily Telegraph. They stated:

"Dorothy Thornhill overcame tough opposition to become the first directly LibDem mayor in 2002 and she was re-elected in 2006. Watford is a target seat for the 'LibDems' at the next election and her tenure as mayor will prove crucial to their fortunes.^[3] "

At a Liberal Democrat 'Town Hall' meeting in Watford, February 2010, the leader of the party, Nick Clegg was asked whether he felt the Mayor was right to earn the same wage as a Member of Parliament whether she was “value for money”, and in response he named her "one of the best mayors in this country".^[4]

Thornhill was re-elected as Mayor of Watford in May 2010, for a third term in office, with a majority of 11,921, becoming the second directly elected mayor in the UK to do so.^[5]

Personal life

Thornhill was assistant head teacher at Queens' School, in Bushey for several years and had a teaching career spanning over 25 years.^[6]

Thornhill resides in Oxhey, where she was a borough councillor for several years. She states on the Watford Council Website "In my spare time I enjoy spending time with friends and family, reading, watching rugby and football and visiting old churches." and she describes herself as "an avid viewer of Coronation Street" She is an Honorary Vice-President of Watford Football Club.^[6] She is married to Cllr Iain Sharpe, a fellow Liberal Democrat. She uses the social networking site Twitter regularly.

References

1. ^ Dorothy Thornhill Sweeps To Victory (from Watford Observer)
2. ^ Full Steam Ahead For Mayor Thornhill (from Watford Observer)
3. ^ The 50 most influential Liberal Democrats: 41-50 (from Daily Telegraph)
4. ^ Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg spells out vision for Britain during 'town hall meeting' in Watford (from Watford Observer)
5. ^ http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/8154745.Dorothy_Thornhill_re_elected_with_huge_majority/?ref=mr
6. ^ ^{a b} About the Elected Mayor - Watford Borough Council

External links

• Dorothy Thornill @ the Watford LibDems
• Mayors official page @ Watford Borough Council

Civic offices
New creation	Mayor of Watford 2002 – Present	Incumbent

Persondata
Name	Thornhill, Dorothy
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	26 May 1955
Place of birth	Tenby, Pembrokeshire, Wales
Date of death
Place of death