A YOUNG county councillor selected by the Conservatives to fight for a seat at next year’s Welsh Assembly elections says he is looking forward to the campaign.
Paul Rogers, who will be 25-years-old when voting takes place next May, was chosen as Clwyd South candidate at an open primary event held at the Bryn Howel Hotel in Llangollen on Tuesday evening.
He defeated John Bell, who has stood in the constituency previously as both an Assembly and Parliamentary candidate, by the narrowest of margins in a ballot of both Conservative Party members and non-members.
Candidates answered questions on a range of issues including further powers for the Welsh Assembly and the future of manufacturing and tourism in Clwyd South.
Cllr Rogers, of Brymbo, said he believed the Welsh Assembly government could do more to promote heritage and tourism across the constituency, including providing more funding for projects which would create new jobs and regenerate communities.
He said: “I am pleased to have been given the opportunity to be the Conservative candidate for Clwyd South for next year’s election and would like to thank everyone for their support.
“I am looking forward to the campaign and meeting people across the constituency.
“Clwyd South has seen masses of job losses in recent years and very little investment.
“Our communities need regenerating, our heritage and tourism needs promoting and I look forward to working with local businesses on these issues.”
Tony Partridge, chairman of Clwyd South Conservative Association, said: “I’m pleased with the result for Clwyd South.
“We look forward to Paul taking us into election areas where we have not been successful in the past.”
Veteran politician John Marek was chosen as Conservative candidate for Wrexham at a similar event on Saturday.