Deirdre Varsani of Sinn Féin was elected Chair of Mid Ulster District Council at the council's annual general meeting.

Varsani has served as a councillor since 2023 and previously held the position of Deputy Chair of the Environment Committee while also sitting on the Planning Committee.

Cookstown DUP councillor Eva Cahoon was elected Deputy Chair for the same one-year term.

Cahoon was elected to the council in 2023 and previously chaired the Policy and Resources Committee while serving on the Environment Committee.

Varsani stated that her theme for the year is togetherness and that she intends to support the continued growth of the Irish language in the district.

She also said she looks forward to highlighting the district's diversity, ambition and entrepreneurial spirit.

Varsani is a politics graduate and worked as a teacher and vice-principal for 25 years.