Crossword Genius

Head of state loses first local (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

resident

'local' is the definition.
(a resident of a particular area)

'head of state loses first' is the wordplay.
'head of state' becomes 'president' (president is a type of head of state).
'loses first' means to remove the first letter (I've seen 'losing first' mean this).
'president' with its first letter removed is 'RESIDENT'.

(Other definitions for resident that I've seen before include "Occupier" , "Inserted by permanent inhabitant" , "Lodger" , "One living somewhere" , "Dwelling in a place for some time" .)

I've seen this clue in The Daily Express.
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