Samuel Kurtz

Samuel Kurtz
Kurtz in 2021
Shadow Minister for Energy and Economy
Assumed office
18 April 2024
LeaderAndrew RT Davies
Preceded byRole Re-organised
Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs and the Welsh Language
In office
7 May 2021 – 18 April 2024
LeaderAndrew RT Davies
Preceded byJanet Finch-Saunders[a]
Succeeded byJames Evans
Member of the Senedd
for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire
Assumed office
7 May 2021
Preceded byAngela Burns
Majority936
Pembrokeshire County Councillor for Scleddau Ward
In office
5 May 2017 – 5 May 2022
Preceded byOwen Watkin James
Succeeded byWard Abolished
Personal details
Political partyWelsh Conservatives
Alma materUniversity of the West of England
Websitewww.samuelkurtz.wales

Samuel Kurtz (usually known as Sam Kurtz) is a Welsh Conservative politician who has been Member of the Senedd (MS) for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire since the 2021 Senedd election. Kurtz has been the Welsh Conservatives' Shadow Energy and Economy Minister since April 2024.[1][2] Kurtz was a Pembrokeshire County Councillor from 2017 to 2022, representing Scleddau ward.

Personal Life and Education

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Kurtz studied for a BA in Politics at the University of the West of England.[3]

Career

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Prior to his political career, Kurtz worked for the Pembrokeshire Herald and the Western Telegraph.[3]

Political Career

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Kurtz was elected to Pembrokeshire County Council in 2017.[4] He represented Scleddau ward until the 2022 elections.[5] The ward was abolished at this election, and split across the Llanrhian and Bro Gwaun wards.[5][6]

Kurtz was selected to replace the outgoing Angela Burns as Welsh Conservative candidate for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire in 2020.[7] Shortly after this, 3 past tweets surfaced, in which he described an individual as a "gay boy", said someone "sounds a little gay" and described someone as “bisexual, and looks like shit off of a shoe”.[8] Kurtz apologised for the comments.[9][10] He was elected as MS for the constituency at the 2021 Senedd elections, with a majority of 936.[11][12]

Kurtz has been the Conservatives' Shadow Minister for Economy and Energy since 2024.[1][2] From his election until 2024 he was the Welsh Conservatives' Shadow Rural Affairs and Welsh language Minister in the Senedd[13][14] He is also a member of two Senedd Committees: the Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee and the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee.[3] He is also a member of cross-party groups on armed forces and cadets, beer and pubs, diabetes, digital rights and democracy, fisheries and aquaculture, further education and skills, horseracing, small shops, tourism and welsh wool.[3] He also chairs cross party groupings on rural growth and shooting and conservation.[3]

Notes

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  1. ^ as Shadow Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs

References

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  1. ^ a b Price, Emily (18 April 2024). "Welsh Conservatives reshuffle shadow cabinet". Nation.Cymru. Archived from the original on 18 June 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
  2. ^ a b "'Let's get the dragon that is the Welsh economy breathing fire once again!'". Pembroke And Pembroke Dock Observer. 18 April 2024. Archived from the original on 25 May 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Samuel Kurtz MS". senedd.wales. Archived from the original on 22 February 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
  4. ^ "Local Elections Archive Project - 2017 - Pembrokeshire". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Archived from the original on 25 May 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
  5. ^ a b "Election Results". www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 16 March 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
  6. ^ Mosalski, Ruth (21 June 2021). "Members of the Senedd who are also councillors". Wales Online. Archived from the original on 21 January 2023. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
  7. ^ "Will Sam be the man for the Senedd?". Western Telegraph. 30 November 2020. Archived from the original on 25 May 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
  8. ^ Shipton, Martin (3 December 2020). "Conservative candidate apologises for homophobic and misogynistic tweets". Wales Online. Archived from the original on 25 May 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
  9. ^ "Tory councillor Sam Kurtz apologises for offensive tweets". Western Telegraph. 3 December 2020. Archived from the original on 18 June 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
  10. ^ "Senedd Tory candidate apologises for offensive tweets". BBC News. 1 December 2020. Archived from the original on 25 May 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
  11. ^ "Carmarthen West & Pembrokeshire South". BBC News. 7 May 2021. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  12. ^ Jenkins, Katy (7 May 2021). "Senedd 2021: Sam Kurtz, Conservative, takes Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire seat". Western Telegraph. Archived from the original on 18 June 2024. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  13. ^ "Samuel Kurtz: 'Welsh farmers need a Welsh Government that is going to support the industry' | Farm News | Farmers Guardian". www.farmersguardian.com. 24 November 2023. Archived from the original on 29 January 2024. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  14. ^ "Samuel Kurtz MS Archives". Institute of Welsh Affairs. 30 September 2022. Archived from the original on 29 January 2024. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
Senedd
Preceded by Member of the Senedd for
Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire

2021 – present
Incumbent