Carole Howard
Former High Sheriff of Belfast
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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]
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 |
| Party | Ulster Unionist (since 2021) |
Other political affiliations | Alliance Party (until 2021) |
Background
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]