Tonyrefail East

Tonyrefail East is the name of an electoral ward covering the eastern two-thirds of the community of Tonyrefail in Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales. It elects two councillors to Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council.

Description
The Tonyrefail East ward is divided from Tonyrefail West by a line that approximately follows the A4119 road which in turn runs close to the route of the River Ely. The ward includes the main village of Tonyrefail, as well as the villages of Thomastown and Coedely

According to the 2011 UK Census, the population of the Tonyrefail East ward was 5,927. In 2012 the registered electorate was 4,431.

Background
The Tonyrefail East ward elected two district councillors to Taff-Ely Borough Council between 1983 and 1996.

In 1988 Tonyrefail East also became a county ward, electing one county councillor to Mid Glamorgan County Council in 1989 and 1993.

Since the creation of Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council, Tonyrefail East has elected one county borough councillor at each election since 1995.

Election results
Incumbent councillors are marked below with an asterisk (*)

2012
Labour councillor Russell Roberts had represented Tonyrefail East since 1995 and had been Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council since 2004. In the lead up to the 2012 local elections, Independent candidate Paul Wasley complained to the police that his election posters were being improperly removed by council staff. The council responded they were dealing with it as flyposting. Roberts lost his seat at the election.

2017
Bob McDonald stood down at this election. Eudine Hanagan, Labour councillor for Tonyrefail West for 18 years, chose to stand in Tonyrefail East (the ward she lived in) though she failed to win a seat.