THE mayor of Newquay has been voted in for an unprecedented third term of office, despite last minute opposition.

Councillor Drew Creek defeated Cllr Joanna Kenny to become mayor for the 2026/27 civic year by nine votes to six, with one “spoiled” vote.

Cllr Kenny, the longest serving member of the town council, stated she stood for the election of mayor to give fellow councillors a democratic opportunity to vote for someone else as deputy mayor Sarah Thomson was due to remain his understudy for another year.

Cllr Creek stated he wanted to serve a third term to see through various projects that he has been instrumental in, which include Newquay Youth Club and building a new play park at Mount Wise.

During the meeting Cllr Kenny’s microphone was turned off during her speech. She supplied a draft to the Voice after the meeting. In it she said: “I am standing because I am angry.

“Not because we have someone trying to squat permanently in the role of mayor, in defiance of all the council’s history and conventions when we have a competent hardworking deputy mayor who had every right to look forward, and was doing so, to taking on her year of office.

“And incidentally stopping anyone of you in getting into the natural progress of taking on these roles.

“For that I would just be cross.

“Bullying is what angers me.

“I hate that there has been far too much of that over the years in this council – and I will always call it out when I see it.

“Because remaining silent would make me complicit in bullying, just shrugging my shoulders, let them get on with it – a slippery slope that protects the perpetrator and isolates the victim.

“And now it’s your choice whether to be complicit in what has happened or to make a stand. Surely you have concerns?

“I appreciate the political difficulties, though the Mayoralty should be above politics. You are not being challenged to raise your head above the parapet.

“You don’t even have to vote for me. You can abstain.

“That at least would not be a vote for bullying.

“Win or lose I will not be shaking Cllr Creek’s hand, not now or probably ever. This is what I stand for. Your choice fellow councillors is to confirm what you stand for.”

Cllr Richard Barker, the Reform UK Cornwall councillor for St Newlyn East, Cubert and Goonhavern, who observed the mayoral election from the public gallery, felt a re-run should be undertaken as he argued Cllr Kenny had been misrepresented in the speeches ahead of the vote.

Cllr Creek said councillors are able to raise the matter with Cornwall Council’s monitoring officer.

Cllr Kenny added afterwards: “The election was bizarre, with Cllr Creek running his own election, it felt like a set-up from the start and so it continued. My concern was bullying in the council and I could not have wished for a better example.

“I’m grateful to Cllr Barker, not a political ally, but who, observing from the public gallery felt a re-run was in order.

“But had the election been run in a proper, even-handed and fair manner, the result would have been the same.”

Cllr Kenny later confirmed she did not intend to infer Cllr Creek was a bully, but wanted it known she did not agree that a mayor should chair their own election.

In response to Cllr Kenny’s speech Cllr Slade said: “I haven’t been bullied.

“The Green Party was not aware of any bullying as we talked amongst ourselves about who would be the best mayor.

“We wanted Cllr Creek to continue as mayor because there is too much unfinished business with the youth centre and play park.

“We thought Sarah Thomson was happy to be deputy mayor and become mayor next year.”

Cllr Creek said: “I am really pleased to say I was voted in for a third term, it was a genuinely special moment.

“Regarding the substance of the allegations themselves, I reject any suggestion of bullying completely and without reservation.

“I find it deeply hurtful that myself or any member of our group should have our characters questioned in this way.

“Both Cllr Thomson and I were voted in with support from across the chamber, and I am very much looking forward to continuing to work alongside her, we make a great team and I know we have an exciting year ahead for Newquay together.

“On the process, the sitting mayor managing the agenda and nominations has always been the convention here, as it was for Cllr North's consecutive term and others before her. Nothing about the vote was irregular in any way.

“What I'm focused on is delivering for the people of Newquay, Mount Wise Play Park breaking ground this summer and the youth centre returning to community hands before year end. That is what this third year is about.”

Cllr Thomson said: “I am looking forward to another year as deputy mayor and some exciting projects I'm working on within the Newquay and wider community. Fingers crossed I'll be mayor next year. And good wishes for Cllr Creek for his mayorship for the forthcoming civic year.”