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.
Samuel Kurtz | |
|---|---|
 Kurtz in 2021 | |
| Member of the Senedd for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire | |
| Assumed office 7 May 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Angela Burns |
| Majority | 936 |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Welsh Conservatives |
| Alma mater | University of the West of England |
| Website | www |
Personal Life and Education
Kurtz studied for a BA in Politics at the University of the West of England.[3]
Career
Prior to his political career, Kurtz worked for the Pembrokeshire Herald and the Western Telegraph.[3]
Political Career
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]