| Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent | |
|---|---|
| Appointer | Electorate of Stoke-on-Trent |
| Precursor | Council Leader |
| Formation | 2002 |
| First holder | Mike Wolfe |
| Final holder | Mark Meredith |
| Abolished | 2009 |
| Succession | Council Leader |
The Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent was an executive mayoralty that existed from 2002 to 2009,[1] when the executive of Stoke-on-Trent City Council was a directly elected mayor. The authority was unique in being the only authority in England with an elected mayor and council manager.[2] The first mayor was Mike Wolfe, a former manager of the Citizen's Advice Bureau in the city. He had stood as an independent, but was defeated by Mark Meredith representing the Labour Party in 2005.[3] A referendum was held on 24 October 2008. Residents voted in favour of a return to the council leader and cabinet system.[4] There was controversy when it was revealed three years later that plans to close a swimming pool in the city had been agreed privately by the former mayor.[5]