29th August 2010

Arfon Conservatives have unveiled two, young candidates for the by-elections taking place in Caernarfon on October 7th.

Llinos Thomas, 23, is the Welsh Conservative candidate for Seiont Ward on Gwynedd Council. Llinos was brought up on Anglesey and is a fluent Welsh speaker. She works full time at the ESRC Centre for Bilingualism at Bangor University and got involved with politics after several years of charity fundraising and campaigning across North Wales.  She has previously fought local elections in Ceredigion in 2008, whilst studying International Relations at Aberystwyth University.

Llinos said "I have seen firsthand what our communities can do when they come together in a common cause, and I would be a strong voice for Seiont on Gwynedd Council. I will listen to residents' concerns and bring some new ideas and a different approach to the Council.  The Welsh Conservatives offer a real alternative here in Caernarfon."

Dylan Jones, 31, will fight the vacant Town council seat on Cadnant Ward. Dylan is a ‘cofi’, born at Ffordd Hyfrydle, Caernarfon and a pupil at Ysgol yr Hendre and Ysgol Syr Hugh Owen. He fought the Cadnant ward in 2008 and has been an active member of the community ever since. He is married, with two daughters, and has worked with the NHS in Wales as a Health Care Support worker at Ysbyty Gwynedd for 12 years. Dylan is also a Director at Caernarfon Wanderers Football Club and has served in a number of voluntary roles in the town.

Dylan told Caernarfon Online: “I am thrilled to be given this opportunity to fight for a place on the Town Council and if elected I promise to work with all groups and parties for the good of the town, not any particular business. Residents know what they’re getting with me; I campaigned for fairer spending on Cadnant’s council housing stock and campaigned against the proposed parking permit scheme that would have seen residents pay £80 a year for the privilege of parking in their own street. I promise to bring a fresh approach to Caernarfon’s Politics by listening and empowering people, not indulge in petty squabbling about this or that.”

Picture : Young Welsh Conservative candidates for Caernarfon, Llinos Thomas and Dylan Jones (centre) meet with new Aberconwy MP Guto Bebb (L) and former Arfon candidate, Robin Millar (R)