Community campaigner Anthony Cook has been selected by Plaid Cymru to contest the Hengoed ward by-election on Thursday, August 6th.
Anthony, 37, who hails from Cefn Hengoed, is standing after the previous Plaid Cymru councillor Donna Cushing was obliged to stand down from her role on Caerphilly County Borough Council following her election to the Senedd last month.
Anthony attended Derwendeg Primary School. Cefn Hengoed and Lewis School, Pengam, before enlisting in the Army where he served in the Royal Engineers before transferring to the Royal Welsh Regiment.
During his nearly eight years of service, he completed a tour in Afghanistan and deployed to Canada and Poland, where he was stationed around the time of the 2014 Russian annexation of Crimea.
After leaving the Army in 2016, Anthony worked in a range of jobs, including HGV driving, machinery movements, and delivering building supplies. Determined to advance his career, he attended night school while studying to earn a distinction in Construction and the Built Environment and has spent the last four years working successfully as a surveyor and analyst.
Anthony has spoken about his passion for providing new opportunities for local young people in the area. Recognising that not all children are interested in the area's sports clubs, Anthony wants to establish a youth outlet equipped with musical instruments where volunteers can teach youngsters to play.
He also strongly believes that educating young people about the region's rich industrial history will build local pride, which, he feels, is the key to reducing antisocial behaviour such as vandalism and littering.
To lead by example, Anthony plans to organise and take part in community litter-picking efforts to clean up problem areas like Pottery Lane, Cefn Hengoed and local roadsides.
Anthony added: “I believe my background has prepared me well for the responsibilities of a councillor and my experiences have instilled in me a strong sense of discipline and a commitment to public duty.”
Anthony is married to Gemma and is the father of three boys, ranging in age from his youngest, who is four, to his eldest who is twelve.
In his free time, he plays the guitar and stays busy supporting his sport-loving sons, who play for local rugby and football teams including Cascade and Penallta.
Councillor Charlotte Bishop, leader of the Plaid Cymru group on Caerphilly County Borough Council, said: “I’m sure Anthony would make a brilliant, hard working local representative for the Hengoed ward, if he was elected. Anthony would carry on the excellent community work of our ward councillor Teresa Parry.”