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Richard Morris Jones Resigns

The Town Council is in turmoil once again as we exclusively hear the Mayor Elect resigns from office for personal reasons.

Richard Morris Jones came top of the polls with voter in taking the Town council seat, yet astonishingly he was piped to the post by the Plaid Cymru candidate Clr Ioan Thomas.

Earlier in the year, Plaid Cymru voted that Ioan would be chosen to represent them on the Menai ward (instead of Richard Morris Jones). This resulted in Richard Morris Jones resigning from Plaid to stand as an Independent candidate.

Wife's support

His wife, Helen Gwyn also stepped down from Plaid Cymru as a show of support for her husband. (Helen is a former twice Mayor of Caernarfon).

Unfortunately Helen lost her town council seat on the Menai Ward and many have felt that the couple have been wrongly treated by Plaid Cymru.

Richard Morris Jones has achieved a lot in his time as councillor, he was Chairman of the Eisteddfod committee which brought the event to Caernarfon a couple of years ago, he was also Chairman of the council's finance committee as well as Chair of the Victoria Dock venture board.

Both Helen and Moi (as he is locally known) were forefront in twinning Caernarfon with Landerneau in Brittany. A town who has close language similarities with Caernarfon.

Where does this leave the Town Council?

This decision is unprecedented in Caernarfon's history and leaves the council in an awkward position. It is now up to the council to decide what to do for the best of the town.

On the vacant seat issue:The choice seems to be to either ask for nominations or have a by election.

On the new mayor issue: A new candidate may have to be found and the ceremony delayed to allow for arrangements to be made or they may decide to extend the current's Mayor's term.

Caernarfon Online contacted the town council and the Town Clerk, Mrs Katherine Owen confirmed that "a letter had been received by Councillor Richard Morris Jones but as it has not been put in front of the council", she could not comment further. She added that "more information should be made available tomorrow".

The council met tonight at 6pm

Shock decision made at tonight's meeting

Gerald Parry nominated and Huw Edwards seconded that the current Mayor would keep her seat for another year. This was passed by the councillors present. It was thought that the Mayor would have a second dinner to celebrate the event of a further 12 months in the seat, but the latest we have heard is that there will be a buffet to honour the occasion.

It was also agreed by the council to have a By-Election on the Menai Ward.