THE ruling People’s National Party (PNP) will be fielding 14 new candidates for next month’s local government elections.

Keste Miller, the secretary for the PNP’s Region 4 and chairman of the selection committee, said the candidates were ratified at a recent special delegates’ conference.

Miller said most of the newcomers are “young, vibrant and intelligent, what we are looking for in those who present themselves for selection to represent people”.

The new candidates are:

* Patricia Harris, Bellevue division;

* Leroy Martin, Point Hill;

* Leslie Washington, Red Hills;

* John Thomas, Ginger Ridge;

* Natalee Neita, Lauriston;

* Harold Buchanan, Naggo Head;

* Junior Wint, Greater Portmore;

* Kennedy Reid, Greater Portmore North;

* Omar White, Crescent;

* Reenel Robb, Spanish Town;

* Courtney Smith, Ensom City;

* Rohan Silveria, Homestead; Milicent Fante;

* Church Pen; and

* Phillip Bromfield, Old Harbour South.

Councillor Daphne Innerarity, who represented Lauriston division, did not seek re-election and Natalee Neita has filled that slot.

Omar White had unsuccessfully contested the Central St Catherine seat against the Jamaica Labour Party’s Olivia Grange in last October’s general election.

Meanwhile, PNP sources said Mayor of Spanish Town Owen Stephenson, while he is expected to win his seat, will face a strong contest for the mayorship. “He will not have a cut and dry case this time around, he will be contested by one or two bright young aspirants who have already given clear signals that they have ideas for significantly improving the quality of administration in the parish and, these young aspirants are in safe seats,” one party insider said. “There is a call, in fact a great need for a dynamic mayor of Spanish Town,” the source added.