The fifth election to the Carmarthenshire County Council was held in March 1901.[1] It was preceded by the 1898 election and followed by the 1904 election.
Overview of the result
The Liberals retained a strong majority. With a few exceptions, members were returned unopposed.[2]
Candidates
Only six seats were contested. Eleven of those elected at the first election, and who had served continuously since then, sought re-election.
None of the retiring aldermen sought election as candidates. There was also a vacancy following the death of W.O. Brigstocke, Blaenpant.[2]
Outcome
An uneventful election saw little change in the political composition of the council. The Liberals gained two seats when their candidates were returned unopposed at Llangeler and in one of the Llanelli wards after Conservative councillors stood down.
At the annual meeting, the six retiring aldermen were supported by the majority of members but there was no unanimity on replacement for Henry Wilkins, who stood down, and W.O. Brigstocke, who had died in office. W.N. Jones polled 26 votes, only three fewer than the eighth candidate, Augustus Brigstocke.[3] However, all eight were Liberals, leaving the Conservatives with only two seats on the aldermanic bench.
It was a reflection of the largely non-political character of the 1901 county election in Carmarthenshire (with the vast majority being elected unopposed) that the political affiliation of the two candidates for this ward was not recorded in the local press.[1]
In addition to the 51 councillors the council consisted of 17 county aldermen. Aldermen were elected by the council, and served a six-year term. Following the elections the following eight aldermen were elected (with the number of votes recorded in each case).[3]
