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The Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent was an executive mayoralty that existed from 2002 to 2009, when the executive of Stoke-on-Trent City Council was a directly elected mayor. The authority was unique in being the only authority in England with an elected mayor and council manager. The first mayor was Mike Wolfe, a former manager of the Citizen's Advice Bureau in the city. He had stood as an independent, but was defeated by Mark Meredith representing the Labour Party in 2005. A referendum was held on 24 October 2008. Residents voted in favour of a return to the council leader and cabinet system. There was controversy when it was revealed three years later that plans to close a swimming pool in the city had been agreed privately by the former mayor.
Referendum
2002
Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent referendum 2 May 2002
Choice
Votes
%
Elected Mayor
28,601
58.2
Cabinet System
20,578
41.8
Required majority
50
Total votes
49,179
100.00
Source: House of Commons Library
2008
Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent referendum 23 October 2008