Mary Rasmussen (politician)

Mary Rasmussen (née Gibbons) is a British Labour Party politician who has served as the Lord Mayor of Liverpool since May 2021 and as a Liverpool City Councillor for Speke-Garston ward since May 2007.

The Right Worshipful
Councillor
Mary Rasmussen
Lord Mayor of Liverpool
Assumed office
17 May 2023
Preceded byRoy Gladden
In office
28 May 2021 – 25 May 2022
Preceded byAnna Rothery
Succeeded byRoy Gladden
Liverpool City Councillor
for Speke-Garston
Assumed office
4 May 2007
Preceded byDoreen Knight
Majority1,768 (79.8%)
Personal details
BornGarston, Liverpool
NationalityBritish
Political partyLabour
ChildrenMichael
Janine
Lian
EducationBlessed John Almond School

Early life and education

Rasmussen was born in Garston, Liverpool to Irish parents - Thomas and Theresa Gibbons - as the third of ten children.[1] She attended St. Francis of Assisi Primary School and later Blessed John Almond School. She completed a university course before opting to work with people who were long-term unemployed.[2]

Career

For a period, Rasmussen worked with long-term unemployed people.[2] She has worked as a Partnership Manager for Reed, a UK-based employment agency, since August 2014.[3] She is a board member of several groups, including South Liverpool Homes, Speke Community Pensioners Group and Speke Adventure Playground.[4]

Liverpool City Council

Rasmussen was elected as a Liverpool City Councillor in May 2007, succeeding Councillor Doreen Knight of the Labour Party. She defeated Paula Keaveney of the Liberal Democrats and received 57.1% of the vote.[5] She has since been re-elected three times, most recently in 2019 with 79.8% of the vote.

She has served as Chair of Liverpool City Council's Labour Group and as the group's Chief Whip, the first woman to hold the position.[6]

Rasmussen was sworn in as Lord Mayor of Liverpool on 28 May 2021 at Liverpool Tennis Centre owing to COVID-19 social distancing requirements. She chose her son, Michael, to serve as Consort and her daughter, Janine, to serve as Lady Mayoress.[2] As Lord Mayor, she opted to sponsor The Whitechapel Centre, Tom Harrison House and Speke Training and Education Centre.[2]

Personal life

Rasmussen has two children: Michael, a maths teacher, and Janine. Her daughter Lian passed away in 2020.[2]

References
  1. "First 'service' for Liverpool's new Lord Mayor". Liverpool Express. 25 May 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  2. "Lord Mayor of Liverpool Biography". Liverpool Town Hall. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  3. Rasmussen, Mary. "Mary Rasmussen". LinkedIn. Mary Rasmussen. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  4. "Register of interests for Councillor Mary Rasmussen". Liverpool City Council. 31 March 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  5. "Election results for Speke-Garston". Liverpool City Council. 3 May 2007. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  6. "Tennis Centre is backdrop for Lord Mayor's first 'service'". Culture Liverpool. 26 May 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
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