Labour has selected Dawn Bowden as its assembly candidate for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney, replacing the outgoing Education Minister Huw Lewis.
Ms Bowden, who is Unison Cymru’s head of health, will now run for the seat in May’s Assembly election. She beat Carol Estebanez and Anna McMorrin in the all-women shortlist to gain the party’s nomination.
Ms Bowden, who is originally from Bristol, has lived in Wales for 30 years, and in that time has been active in the Labour Party – recently campaigning for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney MP Gerald Jones in the run-up to his election last year.
The imposition of an all-female shortlist for the nomination proved controversial for some.
Speaking prior to her selection as the party’s candidate, Ms Bowden, who lives in Pontyclun, said she would move to the constituency if she was elected its AM.
She said: “I understand how Welsh Government works.
“I can offer the skills required by an Assembly Member to represent constituents, take up case work, present arguments and to debate all of the key economic, social and other issues that affect our local communities.
“I also have extensive management experience, essential for an AM to run an effective office with staff and resources.”
• The Green Party has announced Julie Colbran as its AM candidate for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney.