The Liberal Democrat candidate for next year's Welsh Assembly Government elections has been picked for Cardiff North.
The candidate announced today is Matt Smith, 22, originally from Rhiwbina. Smith will be the Lib Dem challenger to incumbent Conservative Assembly Member, Jonathan Morgan.
Speaking after the selection, Smith said:
"I'm delighted to have been selected by my local party to fight the seat. With the referendum on further powers to the Assembly also imminent, it's a really exciting time to be involved in Welsh politics."
Smith was one of the youngest parliamentary candidates in Wales at the 2010 General Election and is expected to be amongst the youngest of the Assembly challengers next year.
He was educated at Whitchurch High School and is currently undertaking a BA Politics degree at the University of Glamorgan.
Cardiff North Lib Dem Chair, Fenella Bowden, said:
"We are confident that we have made an excellent appointment in Matt. Not only do we have someone with extensive local knowledge, but he also has the drive and enthusiasm to be a really effective voice in the Senedd for the people of Cardiff North."
The Assembly elections are due to take place next May. The Liberal Democrats announced their candidate for Cardiff Central as Nigel Howells, the current executive member for culture, leisure and sport for Cardiff Council, leaving the leader of the council Rodney Berman pipped to post for the seat. Lib Dem councillor for Heath, Fenella Bowden, wrote a letter in response to Cardiff north AM Jonathan Morgan's comments on the leader's defeat, published in the South Wales Echo today. Bowden writes:
"It beggars belief he should be suggesting that such a role [that of a councillor] is less important to that of being an AM.
"By doing so he denigrate those of us who regard the service of our city as a privilege, whatever part we play, and Mr Morgan would do well to remember that no-one is more important than the residents we represent. Perhaps a lesson in humanity is called for."
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