A former Birmingham Post health correspondent has become leader of the city's Liberal Democrat councillors.
Coun Jon Hunt, who remains a part-time medical journalist, worked at the newspaper for ten years up to 1998 before embarking on his political career.
The Perry Barr councillor has now officially taken over as leader of the city council's 11-strong Liberal Democrat group, replacing veteran councillor Paul Tilsley.
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Coun Tilsley of the Lib Dems but will stay on as a backbench member, at least until his term of office is up in 2018.
The group has chosen Acocks Green councillor Roger Harmer as deputy leader.
Coun Hunt said the council, which has been run by Labour since 2012, had failed to listen to the city's people, particularly on refuse collections and wheelie bins.
He said: "There is now huge discontent with the quality of bin collection services, with the state of the streets and the quality of our neighbourhoods.
"As a councillor and as group deputy leader, I have had a relentless focus on listening to ordinary voters and giving them a voice."
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In 2008, the Lib Dems peaked with 32 councillors out of 120 and ran the council in coalition with the Tories.
But, along with their colleagues throughout the country, the Birmingham party has suffered major losses since forming the national Coalition Government in 2010.
Now, with just 11 councillors, the focus will be on rebuilding grass roots support.
Coun Hunt said: "This is what I intend the Liberal Democrats will be known for as we rebuild from our own dark days in the first half of this decade.
"I believe we desperately need good Liberal Democrat councillors in Birmingham to ensure the voices of ordinary people are heard and to promote sensible and realistic policies."
Coun Hunt joined the Birmingham Post in 1988 as medical correspondent.
Ten years later, he left newspapers to found an online medical news agency for which he continues to work part-time.
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He is married to Marcia and they have three sons and he was first elected councillor for Perry Barr in 2003.
At the time, it was a marginal ward but he has successfully defended the seat four times since then.
Coun Hunt has also chaired the city's education scrutiny committee for six years and was vice-chairman of the West Midlands Integrated Transport Authority for two years.