Brief history of the Mayoralty
The word "Mayor" derives from the same Latin word "Magnus", meaning great. The Office of the Mayor, together with the Doomesday Book and the feudal system were brought to this country by the Normans, as such an office had existed on the continent at least since the 5th Century. The first English Mayor was the Mayor of London, appointed in 1189 by Richard I.
The Mayor of the Metropolitan Borough of Sandwell is elected annually by the Council from among the elected Councillors. By statute, the election of the Mayor must be the first business transacted at the Annual Meeting. The Mayor continues his/her term of Office, unless he/she resigns or becomes disqualified, until his/her successor becomes entitled to act as Mayor.