David Hilditch your East Antrim MLA was born in Larne in July 1963 and was educated at Carrickfergus Grammar School.  After leaving school he began working in the building and construction industry.  He then went on to work in Royal Mail and was based in Carrickfergus.

David entered local government in 1991, winning the local by-election for the Castle district electoral area.    He served as Deputy Mayor from 1994 to 1996.  From 1997 to 1998 he was elected to Alderman and Mayor, a position he was elected to again in 2004 and which he kept until June 2008.  He has been a leading figure in the campaign for the £8 million refurbishment of the Carrickfergus Leisure Centre and supports the ongoing regeneration schemes for the east Antrim area.

He was first elected as an MLA in 1998 and is currently the Vice Chair of the Education Committee, he is a member of the Social Development Committee and also the Public Accounts Committee.

David is:

• Director of Carrickfergus Development Company
• Director of the Causeway Coast and Glens Regional Tourism Partnership
• Forum Member of Belfast Visitor and Convention Bureau Regional Tourism Partnership
• Executive Member of the Walled Towns Friendship Circle

David has a keen interest in sports and in particular promoting sports to young people.  David has been the Director of Carrick Rangers Football Club since 2000 and is a founder of Carrickfergus Youth Development Centre.

David has a Royal Ulster Constabulary Commendation - following a Post Office Robbery in 1997 in Carrickfergus.  He works closely with the local community groups, associations and sports clubs.  He has been a keen fundraiser for Northern Ireland Hospice for many years.  He is the Secretary LOL No.787 and Registrar RBP No 17.

During the 1998 to 2002 term he sat on the Culture Arts and Leisure Committee, Standards and Privileges and the Employment and Learning Committee.  He also served as a member of the Building Sustainable Prosperity Monitoring Committee.