Runners and Riders in Alyn and Deeside By-Election.

There may be something of a indication of the  attitude to Welsh Assembly elections in that he Voters will have the choice of five candidates when the Alyn and Deeside assembly by-election takes place on 6 February.

Yes  6th of February  which is a Tuesday rather than the normal Thursday, which in its self may be contribute to a low turnout.

The poll was triggered by the death of the constituency's AM Carl Sargeant last year and the fact that his son Jack Sargent is s standing as the Labour Candidate may well that everyone  has taken it as a foregone conclusion with arguably only Plaid's Carrie Harper being a candidate with any real profile


But who are the candidates and what issues are they campaigning on?
Here, the BBC lists the  five people hoping to win election

Plaid Cymru - Carrie Harper

Plaid Cymru's candidate is Wrexham councillor Carrie Harper, who serves the ward of Queensway and is on the council's lifelong learning, homes and environment and democratic services scrutiny committees.
"This is a by-election that we all wish wasn't needed and my first thoughts are with the family of Carl Sargeant," she said.
"Our campaign as a party will be to highlight the problems facing the NHS in Wales."

Welsh Conservatives - Sarah Atherton

Sarah Atherton lives in Gresford, near Wrexham. She serves on the village's community council as a councillor for Gresford West.
The Conservatives said jobs, housing and health were priorities for the former district nurse and social worker.
"I have spent many years working in health and have direct experience of some of the problems and frustrations patients - and staff - have to deal with on a daily basis," she said.

Wales Green Party - Duncan Rees

Duncan Rees previously worked for the Co-operative Group in Wales in its membership, PR and community team.
He said the Green party "has the ideas, the energy and the policies to provide an agenda for real change that other parties are not offering in Alyn and Deeside".
Mr Rees, who has lived in Wrexham for 23 years, is active in a range of voluntary organisations, including the support group for the Wrexham-Bidston railway line.

Welsh Labour - Jack Sargeant

Jack Sargeant is the son of Carl Sargeant - the former Welsh Government minister whose death last year triggered the by-election.
Mr Sargeant, 23, said he wanted to seek justice for his father - who was sacked by First Minister Carwyn Jones days before he died.
"I will be standing on a platform of being a powerful voice for local people - in the proud tradition of my father," he said.

Welsh Liberal Democrats - Donna Lalek

Former teacher and a qualified barrister, Donna Lalek is a community councillor from Broughton and a founder member of charitable and activist group Everyone Matters.
She said: "Our area is blessed with fantastic people and vibrant businesses and I'm passionate about giving them the investment, revitalised high streets and career opportunities they deserve.
"I'm excited to fight for the chance to represent this wonderful community in the assembly."

UKIP previously said they would only stand if Jack Sargeant failed to win the Labour nomination. Whether  this bolsters Jack Sargeant's chances is open to question.

The result last time  was a comfortable win (as usual) for Labour with the Conservatives coming second.

Welsh Assembly Election 2016: Alyn and Deeside^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
	Labour	Carl Sargeant	9,922	45.7	−6.9
	Conservative	Mike Gibbs	4,558	21.0	−7.1
	UKIP	Michelle Brown	3,765	17.4	+17.4
	Plaid Cymru	Jacqueline Hurst	1,944	9.0	+1.4
	Liberal Democrats	Peter Williams	980	4.5	−3.1
	Green	Martin Bennewith	527	2.4	+2.4
Majority			5,364	24.7	+0.2
Turnout			21,696	35.0	−2.0
	Labour hold		Swing	+0.1

I think only complacency and a low turn out and Jack Seargeant , inheriting his father seats and who finishes second may depend on how much of their committed vote  can get out.

It is a peculiar By-election  that is so predictable and the only real interest in who comes second.

The real interest may be after Jack Seargeant as expected wins and how he carries out his promise to seek Justice for his father.

First Minister Carwyn Jones may not be too exited about the prospect . but a shock loss would  clearly see his political demise.