Labour has chosen Philippa Leonard to stand for the Risca East by-election on Caerphilly County Borough Council on May 2.
Ms Leonard is a local business business woman and has lived in Risca East all her life.
An experienced community and church volunteer. The Labour group has said her experience as a trade union shop steward and standing up for local people, stands her in good stead to represent the ward.
Ms Leonard said: “I’m thrilled to have been selected as Welsh Labour’s candidate in this by-election.
“I love Risca East and would be proud to represent my community on Caerphilly Council.
“The late, widely-respected Cllr Stan Jenkins will be a hard act to follow but I’m going to campaign hard for every vote in Risca East, and promise to work tirelessly for our Risca East ward if I’m elected on May 2.
Caerphilly Council leader Cllr Harry Andrews said: “I’m delighted that Philippa will be Labour’s candidate for the Risca East by-election. I know that with her experience and local knowledge, she will make an excellent, hard-working councillor for her local community.”
Plaid Cymru has named Matthew Farrell as its candidate for the Risca East by-election.
The issue of the Risca East By Election on the 2nd of May is an `interesting` point to be considered.
The way the electorate of Risca East Votes will NOT be the guide used to gauge, and, the way for future voting patterns to emerge, in Caerphilly borough
If the result were to be claimed to demonstrate the voters levels of satisfaction or disatisfaction with the two main parties in Caerphilly, Labour and Plaid, Dave Cameron standing as an Independent Caerphilly Council Candidate, on a ticket of scrapping all welfare benefits to pensioners, banning compulsory state education, and a murderous cull of all domestic pets in Council houses would romp home.
And, he would still prove more popular than those candidates standing for Labour or Plaid Cymru Councillors on Caerphilly council.
The existing elected Councillors need to realise they are ` on probation` until the next election, they need to learn very quickly how to respond to the citizens who contact them, very basic stuff which some need to note.
It is difficult to know how anyone voting in this election can properly consider and assess which party has the best, current, track record of running Caerphilly County Borough Council.
Who is responsible for the huge wage hike situation?
Who is responsible for the covert spying on members of the public issue?
Who is responsible for rock bottom staff moral in the Council Offices?
Auditor General investigations.
Police Investigations.
Findings of unlawful activity in Public Office.
Suspended Senior Officers.
19 Senior Officers on increased pay whilst staff wallow for four years without any increases at all.
The question of course is, Which Elected Members best respond to contact, correspondence, which members of the electorate have with them on issues of concern? and which do not respond at all? i.e. by batoning down the hatches.