A new DUP councillor has been appointed to fill the seat of former mayor Paul Hamill who died after contracting Covid-19.
Ben Mallon, a director of a Belfast-based PR firm, has been co-opted to Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council.
He has previously worked as a parliamentary adviser for senior DUP representatives including party leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson.
The father-of-three was previously elected in 2014 as a DUP councillor for Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council.
He sought re-election in 2019 to the Airport area of Antrim and Newtownabbey council but was unsuccessful.
Chief Electoral Officer Virginia McVea confirmed Mr Mallon's co-option to Antrim and Newtownabbey council, where he will represent the Macedon area.
Mr Hamill died in hospital in September after becoming seriously ill with coronavirus.
The married father of two young daughters, Mr Hamill was highly-regarded among his council colleagues across the political spectrum.
As mayor, the 46-year-old received praise for his community outreach when in 2018 he addressed an audience in Irish during an event at Mossley Mill for Irish Language Week.
Last month DUP leader Sir Jeffrey paid tribute to Mr Hamill, describing him as a "hard-working and dedicated representative" who was "respected right across the community".
Sir Jeffrey at the time said he did not know whether Mr Hamill had received the Covid vaccine.
The Lagan Valley MP said he discourages party colleagues from "undermining" public health messaging on Covid-19, but people are also "entitled to their personal opinion".
