Long-serving Brighton councillor Lynda Hyde is to retire at the local elections in May.
The Tories yesterday chose Samer Bagaeen, 46, founder of the School of Planning at Brighton University, to stand in her place.
Councillor Hyde, 71, a former mayor of Brighton and Hove, is one of three Conservatives who represent Rottingdean Coastal ward on Brighton and Hove City Council alongside another long-serving councillor, former council leader Mary Mears, and, since 2015, Joe Miller.
Councillor Hyde was first elected to the council in 1999 and went on to serve as chair of the Planning Committee and has been a stalwart of the Licensing Committee.
She said: “After 20 years serving on Brighton and Hove City Council as a councillor for Rottingdean Coastal ward, I have decided not to stand in the local elections this May.
“It has been wonderful to be able to serve the residents of Brighton and Hove for so long.
“Yesterday my replacement was selected and I am very pleased to welcome Samer Bagaeen to stand as a candidate for the ward.
“Sam is an excellent candidate and he is already serving residents as a school governor and carrying out charity work as a member of the Rotary Club. I wish him every success in the May elections.”
Councillor Miller said: “Lynda has been an amazing colleague over the past four years, providing me with a great insight into the council and being a great mentor to me.
“I will miss working with her greatly, but wish her all the best in her retirement.”
Politics aside, there is no doubt that Lynda Hyde was diligent on the Planning Committee.
When I Chaired it, I found that she invariably was the first to leap forth cogently with comments upon Applications large and small – such as the amazing case of the Tudor Court steps, which, as an Officer pointed out afterwards, was a fascinating hour’s debate which amounted to twenty minutes per step.
Have you thought about standing again in this year’s council elections?