ARDS and North Down councillor Stephen Dunne has been chosen to succeed his father as DUP MLA for North Down.
The 32-year-old will take the place of Gordon Dunne, who stepped down from the assembly earlier this month due to ill-health.
Mr Dunne Jr said he was honoured to follow in the footsteps of his father, who served for 36 years in all as an elected representative, initially as a councillor and latterly as an MLA.
"I have big shoes to fill in the Northern Ireland Assembly, but I will do my best to build on his work over many years, and deliver for the people of North Down, in this centenary year," he said.
DUP leader Edwin Poots said the co-opted MLA brought a "youthful energy and passion to the role".
“These are difficult circumstances, and our prayers are very much with Gordon and the wider Dunne family at this time of illness. Gordon has been a first-class representative and MLA," Mr Poots said.
