Carole Howard | |
|---|---|
| High Sheriff of Belfast | |
| In office 15 January 2018 –16 January 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Tom Haire |
| Succeeded by | Tommy Sandford |
| Member of Belfast City Council | |
| In office 2 May 2019 –18 May 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Mairéad O'Donnell |
| Succeeded by | Fiona McAteer |
| Constituency | Titanic |
| In office 22 May 2014 –2 May 2019 | |
| Preceded by | New district |
| Succeeded by | Eric Hanvey |
| Constituency | Lisnasharragh |
| Member of Castlereagh Borough Council | |
| In office 5 May 2011 –22 May 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Peter Robinson |
| Succeeded by | Council abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Belfast,Northern Ireland |
| Political party | Ulster Unionist (since 2021) |
| Other political affiliations | Alliance Party (until 2021) |
Carole Howard is a former Northern Irish politician who was High Sheriff of Belfast from January 2018 to 2019,as well as a Belfast City Councillor from 2014 until 2023,latterly for the Titanic DEA. [1] [2]
Howard first stood for election on behalf of the Alliance Party at the 2011 local elections,winning a seat in Castlereagh's Central District. [3] [4]
She was re-elected at the 2014 local elections,this time for the successor Lisnasharragh District in Belfast. [5] [6]
In January 2018,Howard was made High Sheriff of Belfast,making her the first Alliance representative to hold the office since 2000. She said:"It is a great honour to have been elected to the post of High Sheriff,and I pledge to serve the people of Belfast,and to support the Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord Mayor in carrying out my duties to the best of my ability. I will continue to work hard for our city during my time as High Sheriff,and hope to bring a positive contribution to making Belfast a better and brighter city for all its citizens." [7] [8]
She was elected on the sixth count for the Titanic District at the 2019 election. [9] [10]
In December 2021,Howard joined the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP),by asserting that she has pro-Union views and "feel that I can now openly and comfortably express them to help promote a confident,progressive brand of unionism." Leader Doug Beattie welcomed her to the party,saying:"I am absolutely delighted that Carole has decided to join the Ulster Unionist Party. Carole is exactly the type of elected representative we want to attract,encourage and promote. She has a long-established track record of dedicated public service and I am glad that she wishes to continue that public service with the Ulster Unionist Party." [11] [12] Alliance described Howard's decision as "an act of bad faith." [13]
She unsuccessfully contested the Ormiston District at the 2023 local elections,being the last candidate eliminated,with 847 first-preference votes. [14] [15] [16]