The Chairman of Craven District Council is elected each year at the Annual Council Meeting, which is usually held in May.  The Chairman is the first citizen of Craven and represents the community of Craven at events throughout the District, in other parts of North Yorkshire and, occasionally in the neighbouring areas of Lancashire and West Yorkshire.

The Chairman for 2009/10 Municipal Year is Councillor David Crawford. 

Councillor Crawford represents the Gargrave and Malhamdale Ward as one of its two members.

He is a Conservative Member and sits on Council Committees as follows:
Planning Committee (Substitute Member)
Policy Committee
and is the Council's representative on the Craven Citizens' Advice Bureau

Councillor Crawford was born in Cheltenham and now lives in Bell Busk with his wife, Sandra.

Councillor Crawford's objectives are control of the Council; to achieve lower costs and efficient services to the public.  His interests are gardening, reading non-fiction and politics.

Councillor Crawford's chosen charities during his year of office are the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and Manorlands Hospice.