Good news in Watford, where Dorothy Thornhill, who in 2002 became the first directly-elected Lib Dem mayor in the country, has announced she will run for a fourth term of office:

I am really pleased to announce that I am going to stand again as the mayoral candidate for the Watford Liberal Democrats in the 2014 mayoral elections.

Last night we held our official party meeting at St Luke’s Church, at which I was unanimously reselected. The turnout was great, and we started work right there on my election manifesto.

In many ways it seems like a long time ago since I was first elected as Mayor back in 2002, yet in other ways it feels like yesterday. In that time I’m proud to say we have turned the council around: we overcame a legacy of disastrous financial management, a damning Audit Commission Report and an unacceptable standard of public services.

Now, Watford Borough Council operates efficiently, having achieved £14.9 million of savings since 2002 and reassuringly 91% of residents stated they were satisfied with the way the council runs things, in our most recent community survey last Autumn.

I have loved being Mayor and am just as passionate about our town as I have always been and remain ambitious for its future. I feel we have really taken great strides in making Watford a place its residents can be proud of.

I owe much thanks to everyone that has supported me over the years – it is not always easy to be Mayor – but it is their encouragement that helps me to keep the faith during the more challenging times.

When she last stood, in May 2010, Dorothy was re-elected with 46% of the 1st preference votes. Alas, Sal Brinton was just edged out by the Tories in the Watford constituency by 1,425 votes that same day.