The seventeenth election to Cardiganshire County Council took place in March 1946. It was preceded by the 1937 election with the scheduled 1940 and 1943 being postponed due to the Second World War, and followed by the 1949 election.
Candidates 27 candidates were returned unopposed, all but three of whom were retiring members. This resulted in 23 contests, the largest number since 1922. The contested wards included five of the six wards at Aberystwyth, where very few contests had taken place in the inter-war period. While the overwhelming majority of candidates stood as Independents, there were four Labour candidates.
Eight aldermen retired, of whom four sought election.
Outcome
The new council was composed entirely of Independents, apart from a sole Labour councillor who won a seat at Aberystwyth. However, there were a number of long-serving councillors who lost their seats, including three at Aberystwyth.
At Felinfach, Simon Davies, a retiring alderman, defeated Gwladys Davies of Llanllyr who had represented the ward since 1928.
Results
Aberaeron
Aberbanc
Aberporth
Aberystwyth Division 1
Aberystwyth Division 2
Aberystwyth Division 3
Aberystwyth Division 4
Aberystwyth Division 5
Aberystwyth Division 6
Aeron
Borth
Bow Street
Cardigan North
Cardigan South
Cilcennin
Cwmrheidol
Devil's Bridge
Felinfach
Goginan
Lampeter Borough
Llanarth
Llanbadarn Fawr
Llanddewi Brefi
Llandygwydd
Llandysul North
Llandysul South
Llansysiliogogo
Llanfair Clydogau
Llanfarian
Llanfihangel y Creuddyn
Llangoedmor
Llangeitho
Llangrannog
Llanilar
Llanrhystyd
Llanllwchaiarn
Llansantffraed
Llanwnen
Llanwenog
Lledrod
Nantcwnlle
New Quay
Penbryn
Strata Florida
Taliesin
Talybont
Trefeurig
Tregaron
Troedyraur
Ysbyty Ystwyth
Election of Aldermen
In addition to the 50 councillors the council consisted of 16 county aldermen. Aldermen were elected by the council, and served a six-year term. Following the 1946 election, there were eight aldermanic vacancies which were filled at the annual meeting. Those elected included only one retiring alderman and the first woman ever appointed in the county.
The following retiring aldermen was re-elected: D.R. Morgan, Bow Street
In addition, the following seven new aldermen were elected: Mrs C.M. Evans, Aberystwyth John Williams, Goginan Morgan Jones, Strat Florida Josiah R. Jones, Llandysul Rees Williams, Llwyndafydd Capt D. Morgan, Llannon David James, Llwyndyrus
The following retiring aldermen had been re-elected as members of the council but were not re-elected as aldermen: Simon Davies, Felinfach
Of the newly elected aldermen, Josiah Jones had previously served as alderman from 1922 until 1934.
By-elections Six contested by-elections were held following the election of aldermen.
Aberystwyth Division 3 by-election
Bow Street by-election
Goginan by-election
Llandygwydd by-election
Llandysiliogogo by-election
Llansantffraed by-election
Strata Florida by-election
References