He became a retired British mayor who moved to the resort nine years ago.

Nine years ago, retired British professor Richard Thompson, who moved to the Sant Joan region from the Spanish resort town of Mallorca with his wife, was elected mayor of Sant Joan in local elections after entering politics.

Thompson, 52, from West Sussex, sat in the seat as a result of the election as he could run under Spanish law. Thompson, who joined the environmental and socialist party Mes per Mallorca and worked in politics in the region where 2,000 people live, became the first foreigner to hold this position on the Balearic island thanks to his residence permit.

Thompson, who took office thanks to his party, which won 5 of the 11 seats, will assume this task for 3 years. Thompson, who told Britain’s The Guardian about his experience, said: “Everyone was very surprised after the results. There were also those who said it was nonsense.”

Stating that few English people live in the region and everyone knows him thanks to his tall stature, Thompson said: “I have given private lessons to approximately 300-400 people in the last 9 years. Although I did not give lessons to the people who live in the region, I gave lessons to their children and grandchildren.”

At the beginning of 2008, the British Mark Lewis had been mayor of the Costa Blanca, Carmen McPhee of León 10 years ago.