LAKE District National Park Authority members passed over the opportunity to appoint the body's first female chairman.
Vice chairman Vicky Darrall had been caretaking the role following the departure of David Thornton - who had reached the end of his term of office.
But members of the authority voted against Mrs Darrall in favour of Bill Jefferson, OBE, with 12 votes to six at a meeting on Wednesday.
Mr Jefferson, a local authority appointment to the LDNPA, will remain as chairman, with secretary of state appointed Mrs Darrall as deputy, until the annual meeting in June.
For full story see this week's Westmorland Gazette.
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