Widow of former Wolverhampton mayor Elias Mattu running for council seat
“I hope the community will give me a chance to serve them as my husband did.”
Asha Mattu, the widow of former Wolverhampton mayor Elias Mattu, has revealed she is running for council this year as a Labour candidate – and is hoping to fill the seat her husband held for many years in Graiseley ward.
The 54-year-old had a heartbreaking start to the year, losing her partner of more than 30 years and now has said she wants to do him proud.
Mrs Mattu said: “My husband was a councillor for 18 years. I worked alongside him and knew all about the case work and everything for many years.
“I did want to come onto the council before but I was looking after my mum and dad – sadly they have passed away now.
“I decided I would go for it next year but then when my husband died I thought I would do it this year.”
Mrs Mattu, a former teaching assistant at Graiseley Primary School before she became mayoress, said she hoped the community would give her a chance, after supporting her husband for so many years.
She added: “Living in the heart of the Graiseley ward, I think I’ll be able to serve them well. People have been very, very positive and supportive. I’m quite excited.
“My husband was very well known all over Wolverhampton and I travelled with him all the time. People knew him well, as he was a councillor – his job was different to mine.”
The mother admitted she had been busy recently campaigning for her seat, working closely with fellow ward councillors John Reynolds and Jacqui Sweetman.
She said: “At the moment we are working on visiting places, door knocking, leaflet delivering. We are very busy but I have a good team in John and Jacqui. They all worked with my husband. I was always there in the background before, but now I’m at the front with them.”
Tributes poured in across the city for Councillor Mattu after he died in February at the age of 59 following a long illness.
He was sworn in as mayor back in May but had been absent from recent events due to his ill health.
The councillor represented the Graiseley ward for nearly two decades, and was praised for his ‘warmth, impeccable manners, leadership, compassion, loyalty and unifying influence’ by council leader Roger Lawrence.
Mrs Mattu joined in with last weekend’s celebrations at Wolves Mayor Rock Fest, held in honour of her late husband. It raised money for his chosen charities.
