A strong team of 51 Plaid Cymru Gwynedd candidates have been presented to stand in Gwynedd Council’s Election on 5 of May. Nearly half (22) are female candidates. Following the Boundary Commission’s ward reforms, 69 seats are up for grabs in Gwynedd during this current election – down from 75.
Fortunately for 19 councillors* who have already proven their strong track record within Gwynedd communities, no election contest will be held as they have been re-elected unopposed.
Plaid Cymru Gwynedd Leader, Dyfrig Siencyn said: “It is testimony to their efficiency, hard work ethos and strong community support that opposition parties decided not to offer candidates to stand against them.”
New candidates
“We have more young people standing at this election for Plaid Cymru than ever before,” said Dyfrig Siencyn, Plaid Cymru Gwynedd Leader.
“To me, it’s the best possible news. Young, enthusiastic people bring new, fresh ideas to the table. They complement many of the experienced candidates we have seeking re-election.
“There’s a positive vibe in our camp, after the long bleak days of Covid-19. And sharing that positivity are many of our experienced councillors who are eager to share knowledge, offer a guiding hand and work with the new faces to lead our Gwynedd communities after the 5 of May.”
Bontnewydd’s Menna Jones, a young candidate is eagerly walking the streets of the village with a buggy and toddler in tow. Sasha Williams, Community Councillor for Llanddeiniolen and Bethel’s Chair of Cylch Meithrin and Cylch Ti a Fi Leader stands in the newly created two seat Ward of Bethel and Felinheli, with Plaid’s Iwan Huws.
Whilst over in Llanberis, Kim Jones’ many skills, which includes club secretary of Llanberis Football Club will hold her in good stead, if she is elected councillor for the ward. Beca Roberts - our young, accomplished candidate for Tregarth and Mynydd Llandygai – will be hoping to join the strong Plaid Cymru Dyffryn Ogwen team on the council for her first term in office.
Three other strong female candidates include Shannon Orritt in Cricieth, Llio Elenid Owen for Groeslon and Elin Hywel for North Pwllheli. The first two are new candidates, Shannon has ample experience of the political arena and community challenges as case worker for Mabon ap Gwynfor, Senedd Member, whilst Llio already has a track record of helping community projects as a volunteer at Yr Orsaf centre. Elin also knows local and national politics inside-out, as a member of MP, Liz Saville Roberts’ team.
A great team of candidates are in place at Plaid’s stronghold in Caernarfon, with fresh face, Dewi Jones, a teacher, standing for the first time in Peblig Ward. Minister, Anna Jane, instrumental in supporting the community during the Covid-19 crisis with food packages and prescription deliveries, is our candidate for Hendre ward.
Super ward
Across in Bangor, the super ward that has potentially 8000 electors during University term sees newly appointed Plaid Cymru member, Medwyn Hughes (formerly independent) joining the ranks. Complementing previous Garth Ward Councillor, Huw Wyn Jones, Canol Bangor will be a mammoth ward, doable only with a strong Plaid Cymru team, at the helm. Clinical Psychologist and Plaid Cymru Gwynedd Chair, Elin Walker Jones is standing again at Glyder Ward.
Elsewhere in Arfon, experienced Deputy Leader, Dafydd Meurig is standing to be re-elected as the member for Arllechwedd, as is popular current councillor, Menna Baines in the newly named, Faenol ward.
Three other individuals who have a great deal of experience and understanding of their local areas are Huw Rowlands, looking to gain Llanwnda; Arwyn ‘Herald’ Roberts, the well-known newspaper photographer standing in the new Tryfan ward and Dafydd Thomas hoping to retain Plaid’s hold on Llanllyfni.
We also have three nationally known ‘faces’ standing in Dwyfor Meirionnydd. Actor and presenter, Mici Plwm, is standing in Abererch; former North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner deputy, Ann Griffith, born and bred in Barmouth stands in her hometown and presenter and comedian, Dilwyn Morgan is facing an election in Bala. Dilwyn’s influence locally has been instrumental in ensuring £20,000 to set up a safe route for children to walk to school in the town, one of the many community initiatives that stands him in good stead for easy re-election.
New faces
Three other new faces hoping for election in other parts of Dwyfor Meirionnydd come 5 of May are Elfed Wyn ap Elfed in Bowydd a Rhiw; Llywelyn Rhys in Porthmadog West and Rhys Tudur in Llanystumdwy. Blaenau’s Elfed is a community worker and farmer, an avid campaigner for local housing, together with Rhys Tudur, a solicitor by profession and founder of Hawl i Fyw Adra. Llywelyn Rhys, born and bred in Porthmadog has great experience of local council responsibilities as he’s the current Porthmadog Town Council Chair and Porthmadog West local councillor.
The Meirionnydd market town of Dolgellau is fortunate that both experienced and highly accomplished councillors, Dyfrig Siencyn and Linda Morgan are seeking re-election to continue the great work achieved on a local level. A new candidate with vast experience in local government as an expert in child protection, Delyth Lloyd Griffiths, is aiming high to win the vast rural ward adjoining the town (Brithdir, Llanfachreth, Ganllwyd & Llanelltyd).
Five other excellent candidates face elections in Dwyfor, with current councillors Gareth Tudor Jones and Dewi Roberts look to keep hold of their newly-expanded wards of Morfa Nefyn & Tudweiliog and Abersoch & Llanengan respectively. Dafydd Davies will be looking to be elected to represent Clynnog as will brand new candidate, Jina Gwyrfai, in Yr Eifl. Both are deeply-rooted to their communities and have clear vision for their wards. The people of the new Glaslyn ward would be very fortunate to have the experienced, June Jones, as their newly elected member after the 5 of May.
Elin Walker Jones, Plaid Cymru Gwynedd chair said: “We can take nothing for granted during this democratic period, we are all in the hands of the people. I do urge, however, for Plaid Cymru’s supporters to get out and vote, to work with their candidates locally to ensure that Gwynedd remains a county where community, local people, social justice, local businesses, culture, language and heritage remains at the fore of all that we achieve. Ymlaen!”
Dyfrig Siencyn concluded by saying: “As we look forward to the future, I wish to take this opportunity to thank our hard working councillors stepping down from the political stage at this juncture.
“Some have served a five year term, others many many more. We are grateful to you for your work on behalf of Gwynedd residents, we thank you for your support and commitment, and we hope that you will continue, as friends and former colleagues, to keep true to all that is dear to us within the Plaid Cymru team and our communities.”
Ends
* Plaid Cymru Gwynedd Councillors elected unopposed:
- Gwynfor Owen (Harlech & Llanbedr)
- Annwen Hughes (Harlech & Llanbedr)
- Elwyn Edwards (Llandderfel)
- Alan Jones Evans (Llanuwchllyn)
- Meryl Roberts (Penrhyndeudraeth)
- Nia Jeffreys (Dwyrain Porthmadog East)
- Linda Ann Jones (Teigl)
- Dawn Lynne Jones (Cadnant)
- Rheinallt Puw (Canol Bethesda)
- Olaf Cai Larsen (Canol Caernarfon)
- Berwyn Parry Jones (Cwm-y-glo)
- Beca Brown (Llanrug)
- Elfed Williams (Deiniolen)
- Gareth Roberts (Dewi, Bangor)
- Einir Wyn Williams (Gerlan)
- Ioan Thomas (Menai)
- Craig ab Iago (Penygroes)
- Paul Rowlinson (Rachub)
- Edgar Wyn Owen (Waunfawr)
Plaid Cymru Gwynedd Candidates facing election:
20. Mici Plwm (Abererch)
21. Dewi Wyn Roberts (Abersoch a Llanengan)
22. Dilwyn Morgan (Y Bala)
23. Ann Griffith (Abermaw / Barmouth)
24. Delyth Lloyd Griffiths (Brithdir, Llanfachreth, Ganllwyd & Llanelltyd)
25. Elfed Wyn ap Elwyn (Bowydd a Rhiw)
26. Dafydd Davies (Clynnog)
27. Shannon Orritt (Cricieth)
28. Linda Morgan (De Dolgellau South)
29. Dyfrig Siencyn (Gogledd Dolgellau North)
30. June Jones (Glaslyn)
31. Rhys Tudur (Llanystumdwy)
32. Gareth Tudor Jones (Morfa Nefyn & Thudweiliog)
33. Llywelyn Rhys (Gorllewin Porthmadog West)
34. Elin Hywel (Gogledd Pwllheli North)
35. Jina Gwyrfai (Yr Eifl)
36. Dafydd Meurig (Arllechwedd)
37. Iwan Huws (Bethel a’r Felinheli)
38. Sasha Williams (Bethel a’r Felinheli)
39. Menna Jones (Bontewydd)
40. Huw Wyn Jones (Canol Bangor)
41. Medwyn Hughes (Canol Bangor)
42. Menna Baines (Y Faenol)
43. Elin Walker Jones (Glyder, Bangor)
44. Llio Elenid Owen (Groeslon)
45. Anna Jane Evans (Hendre, Caernarfon)
46. Kim Jones (Llanberis)
47. Dafydd Thomas (Llanllyfni)
48. Huw Rowlands (Llanwnda)
49. Dewi Jones (Peblig, Caernarfon)
50. Beca Roberts (Tregarth & Mynydd Llandygai)
51. Arwyn Roberts (Tryfan)
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