Plaid Cymru announces gemstone expert as candidate for Wrexham Council by-election

Liam Randall, local democracy reporter

Plaid Cymru in Wrexham has chosen a gemstone expert as their candidate in an upcoming by-election.

Becca Martin, 33, was selected to stand in Maes-y-Dre after the ward’s Labour councillor Paul Jones announced he was resigning for family reasons in September.

Ms Martin has lived in the area all her life and attended St David’s School.

She currently works as a gemstone specialist in a town centre jewellery shop, where she’s been employed since leaving school, and is a mother to three-year-old Charlie.

Ms Martin said she was “delighted” to have been picked to stand for the party in the by-election, which is expected to take place next year.

She said: “It’s important that the people of Maes-y-dre have a voice on the council going forward, especially as there are some contentious issues to be discussed locally.

“I think that being a mother with a young child brings a different perspective to the council and I’ll aim to do my best to represent everyone in the ward.”

Before the pandemic, Ms Martin had been involved in a new venture called Parents Helping Parents, which was focussed on assisting families with new children.

She said: “It’s had to be put on hold due to the pandemic and lockdown, but I’m hoping it can develop in the coming year.

“Providing support for parents to raise their children successfully is very dear to my heart and it’s important for so many people.”

‘Excellent’

Councillor Marc Jones, who leads the Plaid Cymru group on Wrexham Council and represents the neighbouring Grosvenor ward, said: “On a personal level, I worked well with Paul Jones on local issues as part of a wider cross-party group of town-centre councillors.

“But I’m delighted that we’ve been able to persuade Becca to stand for Plaid Cymru in the coming by-election.

“If she’s elected, I will look forward to working with her in the interests of our residents on issues such as the plans for the Nine-Acre Field.

“She’ll make an excellent councillor and has a real commitment to the area and reviving the town centre.

“She also brings a different perspective as a young mum and that’s something the council as a whole should welcome.”

There are currently four Plaid Cymru councillors on the local authority after the Welsh nationalist party won the last council by-election in Gwersyllt north.

The party is the first to formally declare a candidate for the polls after Labour described Cllr Jones’ departure as a “huge loss” to his ward.

Labour group leader Dana Davies and Smithfield’s Adrienne Jeorrett said they would take on his responsibilities until a date is set for the by-election.