PORTHMADOG East has a new county councillor after a fascinating campaign between two candidates.

Last Thursday, the Porthmadog East electorate voted in Plaid Cymru’s Nia Jeffreys despite Llais Gwynedd’s Jason Humphreys actually increasing the number of votes that got him elected in 2012.

On the day Cllr Jeffreys won 379 votes (56 per cent) against Mr Humphreys’ 296 (44 per cent).

Cllr Jeffreys was thrilled with her achievement.

She said: “There is something very special in being elected by your home town, so it’s an honour for me to be elected by Porthmadog. I am really grateful for the town’s support and pleased to see nearly a doubling of the Plaid vote on a high turn out.

“I know that the hard work starts now and I am really looking forward to getting started.”

Mr Humphreys said: “I increased my vote from last time but it looks like Nia Jeffreys has succeeded in reaching out to many that have not previously been voting in local elections – which is a good thing.

“I thank everyone who has supported me over the past five years. I stood last time because I felt that our town had been a low priority for the authorities over decades and that someone needed to rock the boat.

“I’ve worked hard and constructively and didn’t receive a single word of criticism on the doorstep. I leave with a clear conscience.

“Congratulations to Nia. In her campaign, she confirmed some of the concerns over the neglect of our town that I had been so eager to challenge. If the message of ‘hope’ that she has so successfully conveyed yields results, then today will have been a good one.

“The bar has been set very high.”

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