NIGEL HOWELLS - A STRONG VOICE FOR CARDIFF CENTRAL - Cardiff Central Lib Dems select new Assembly Candidate.

9.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Sat 24th Jul 2010

Liberal Democrat members in Cardiff Central have selected Nigel Howells as the Cardiff Central Assembly Candidate to contest the seat for the Liberal Democrats at next year's Assembly Election. The selection which took place on Friday evening follows Jenny Randerson AM's announcement in May that she will retire at the 2011 Assembly Election.

Nigel Howells said, "It's a tremendous honour to be chosen by local people to take over from Jenny Randerson who's done so much for Cardiff Central, first as a Councillor then as an Assembly Member."

Nigel said, "I will fight day in day out for a better deal for local residents - all I have ever wanted to do is to serve the people and that is something that I look forward to doing if elected next year."

Nigel, who first came to Cardiff 25 years ago as an Maths Student and later qualified as a chartered accountant in Cardiff. Nigel has represented Adamsdown on Cardiff Council since 1999 and has been the Councils Executive member for Sport, Leisure and Culture since 2004. He is a School Governor at Adamsdown Primary and Stacy Primary Schools.

In this role he oversaw the construction of the award-winning new Central Library - ranked as one of the top 6 in the world by the Sunday Times. As well as Cardiff's new International White Water Rafting Centre.

Jenny Randerson AM added, "I've known Nigel for many years and he'll be a

strong champion for our area in the Assembly."

Local MP Jenny Willott said, "Nigel has a tremendous record of action in Cardiff. I know he'll be a tireless campaigner for Cardiff people in the Assembly and the best person to take over Jenny's fantastic work."