FOUR candidates are to stand in this autumn’s by-election in Pill after Newport council announced the nominations for the city seat.

There were no surprises yesterday when Newport council published who would be running in the elections – with all candidates previously announced by the individual parties.

An election was called in the Pill ward after the death of Labour party stalwart Councillor Ron Jones. No independents are running in the by-election, which takes place on Hallowe’en, October 31.

Cllr Jones died on August 27 – he had represented Pill for more than three decades. Hundreds attended his funeral at St Michael’s RC Church on September 5.

At the time of his death friend and fellow Labour councillor Allan Morris said Ron was “a great loss to the community and the people of Pill”.

Cllr Morris said he was “the epitome of an excellent ward councillor, he was a true inspiration and a great friend”.

Omar Ali, of Argosy Close, will run for Labour, with party activist Joshua Worrad acting as agent.

Paul Halliday, of Seabreeze Drive, will stand for the Liberal Democrats. Newport Lib Dem councillor Ed Townsend will serve as agent for the candidate.

David Fouweather will act as agent for Tory candidate Zafar “Tony” Ismail, who lives in Cardiff Road.

Finally Khalilur Rahman, of South Market Street, will contest the election for Plaid with Anthony Salkeld serving as his agent.

On October 24 a question-and-answer session will take place at the Pill Millennium Centre so people can quiz candidates for the election. The event will begin at 7pm.

Zafar Ismail, Omar Ali and Paul Haliday had confirmed their attendance by the weekend.

Applications to register to vote must be with the council no later than October 16, and should be sent to Electoral Registration Officer, Room 528, Civic Centre, Godfrey Road, Newport, NP20 4UR.

Postal votes must be requested by October 16 and applications for proxy votes should be in by October 23.

Later applications on the grounds of physical incapacity occurring after 5pm on October 23 must reach the officer by 5pm on October 31.