A Porthmadog councillor has set out his aims if he wins a candidacy race to represent Plaid Cymru at the 2021 Assembly elections.

Llywelyn Rhys sits on Porthmadog Town Council and is one of seven candidates trying to win support in an internal party election later this month, in order to stand as Plaid Cymru’s candidate at the next Welsh Assembly elections.

Cllr Rhys said this week that if he received the nomination, he would concentrate his efforts on economic security for the wellbeing of communities and families in the Dwyfor Meirionnydd area.

Cllr Rhys grew up in Porthmadog, before gaining undergraduate and postgraduate degrees at University of Wales Aberystwyth in International Politics.

At the inception of the National Assembly in 1999 Mr Rhys was appointed as a policy researcher for Plaid Cymru responsible for rural affairs that included working for the economic wellbeing of rural communities and the agriculture industry. Llywelyn later returned to the Assembly for Plaid Cymru as political officer responsible for economic development, housing and finance.

Mr Rhys said he would “concentrate on developing the economic security of Dwyfor Meirionnydd for the sake of our communities and Welsh culture”.

He “would ensure that our core services – health, education, and housing – are provided fairly”, he said.

“There is an urgent need for all of us to respond to the Climate Emergency by taking advantage of new technologies and innovative methods,” he added.

The selection hustings for Plaid Cymru members will be held at Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor in Dolgellau on Saturday, 29 June and at Ysgol Glan y Môr, Pwllheli on Saturday, 6 July.