About the current Mayor

Councillor Janette Potter moved to Galleywood Common in 1982 with her late husband Terry. Their daughter Louise was born the following year. She also has three stepchildren, Johanne, Martin and Helen, as well as eight grandchildren, ranging from the age of six to thirty. 

Councillor Potter was first elected in 1991 to represent the ward of Galleywood and has served as the ward’s councillor continuously for the past 33 years. She has served as Deputy Mayor of Chelmsford twice. Once in 1995–6 with Councillor Alan Wilshire, and then again in 2019–20 with Councillor Bob Massey.

The new Mayor has also been a Member of Galleywood Parish Council for over 25 years. She campaigned for a Heritage Centre to be established within the parish, which became a reality in 2009 and has been popular with visitors ever since. 

As a member of the Chelmsford Town Twinning committee, Councillor Potter has often visited Chelmsford’s twin towns of Backnang and Annonay. 

The Mayor will be supported in her role by her Mayoress, Jackie Galley. Jackie previously served as Mayoress alongside her late husband, John Galley, who sadly passed away in 2022 during his mayoral term. 

Deputy Mayor

Councillor Susan Sullivan was born in Essex and has lived in Chelmsford for most of her adult life. She currently lives in Chelmer Village with her husband John Pioli, who will be her Deputy Mayor’s Consort.

In addition to her role as city councillor for Chelmer Village and Beaulieu Park ward, Susan has served as a parish councillor for 20 years and currently chairs the Chelmer Village Council.

Since taking early retirement from her business career at Ford Motor Company, she has been able to devote more time to the community. She is active in the Chelmsford Star Co-operative Society and the Fairtrade movement and is a trustee of a local charity. She was a founding trustee of the Beaulieu Community Trust and has been thrilled to see that community develop from the ground up.

Mayor's charity 

The Mayor has chosen Farleigh Hospice as her charity. Based in Chelmsford, Farleigh Hospice provides hospice care to people affected by life-limiting illnesses and bereavement across mid Essex, and also supported the Mayor’s late husband, Terry Potter, towards the end of his life.

The registered charity relies on donations to fund their services each day and the new Mayor’s fundraising activities for 2024–25 will go towards this.