Councillor Janette Potter is the Mayor for 2024-25. 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.