While the popular John Boxall retained his seat on the Vittoriosa council for the sixth consecutive term, Kirkop Labour candidate Terence Agius became the youngest mayor at 18.
A jubilant Mr Agius, who was elected with 391 first count votes, said he initially believed that his youth would be a drawback in the local council election race.
Kirkop’s new 18-year-old mayor, Terence Agius. Photos: Matthew Mirabelli“People sometimes tend to think that because you’re young, you’re not capable of leading. But people like [former Dingli mayor] Ian Borg have carried out very valuable work.
“Age is not a barrier and I hope to prove myself in these next four years so that at the next local council election, I’ll win over those people who had not voted for me and garner more support.”
Mr Agius is currently an Mcast student, studying for a diploma in electrical and electronic engineering. His love for Kirkop is what prompted him to submit his name as candidate, he says.
He has been involved in politics since the age of 14, having served as mayor of the Kirkop youth local council. He also served as president of the Mcast student council.
Meanwhile, John Boxall, 60, was re-elected as Vittoriosa mayor on the Labour Party ticket. The successful completion of this upcoming term will see him spend 24 years as mayor, he mused.
“It is a certificate to my hard work throughout the years. My motto is to do everything possible for Vittoriosa to be the very best. The city has become a tourist destination and we have worked to generate jobs and to attract people.”
The biggest challenge he faced along the years was getting people on board to collaborate on certain decisions. He would sometimes be met with resistance, although that could be down to the fact that he might not have always managed to get the message across, he admitted.
“We are constantly working on the education of Vittoriosa’s children, which is the key to making the city a better place. We have battled absenteeism and have seen great results, with the number of truants having been reduced drastically.
“We have raised awareness and entered the homes of numerous families, where I have used harsh words at times, warning them that they would be reported if the children are not sent to school.”