Halifax Regional Municipality’s new council had its first official meeting Tuesday and one of the first orders of business twas the appointment of a deputy mayor.

Coun. Reg Rankin was chosen by his peers via secret ballot.

Rankin’s experience was one of the reasons District 1 Coun. Barry Dalrymple nominated him.

“He just won his seventh consecutive term with a fairly health majority, and has served on HRM council from 1995 right through til present,” said Dalrymple.

Rankin will be taking over the position from Coun. Bill Karsten, who has yet to be officially declared in District 3 because of a pending court challenge to the close election result. Karsten says the deputy mayor’s position is actually quite vital.

“Office of deputy mayor is a very, very important office. You know, often we do consider it to be the more ceremonial responsibility that the deputy mayor does,” said Karsten.

Rankin told News 95.7 one of the major roles he has had to play is communicator.

“You are the eyes and ears of councillors. So, if there’s a little bit of problems with relationships…you can convey that to the mayor’s office,” said Rankin.

Working cohesively is something Mayor Mike Savage says will help the new council get things done.

“I think that there’s a sense from people that we can accomplish a whole lot more working together than if we don’t, and the experienced folks know that, and the new folks certainly have a real sense of you know, let’s get this thing going,” said Savage.

Reg Rankin has been a member of regional council since 1996 and was first elected as a councillor to the former Halifax City Council in 1991.

Rankin took a leave of absence from Halifax Regional Council in April 2011 to seek treatment for a drinking problem after reports of some councillors being visibly intoxicated at public events.