{{Short description|Welsh Conservative politician}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = | name = Samuel Kurtz | image = Samuel-kurtz.jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption = Kurtz in 2021 | office = Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and the Welsh Language{{efn|As Shadow Minister for Energy and Economy April - December 2024}} | term_start = 18 April 2024 | term_end = 20 January 2026 | predecessor = ''Role Re-organised'' | leader = [[Andrew RT Davies]] <br> [[Darren Millar]] | office2 = Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs and the Welsh Language | term_start2 = 7 May 2021 | term_end2 = 18 April 2024 | leader2 = [[Andrew RT Davies]] | predecessor2 = [[Janet Finch-Saunders]]{{efn|as Shadow Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs}} | succeeded2 = [[James Evans (Welsh politician)|James Evans]] | office3 = [[Member of the Senedd]] <br /> for [[Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire (Senedd Cymru constituency)|Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire]] | term_start3 = 7 May 2021 | term_end3 = 7 April 2026 | predecessor3 = [[Angela Burns]] | successor3 = ''Constituency abolished'' | office4 = [[Pembrokeshire County Council|Pembrokeshire County Councillor]] for [[Scleddau]] Ward | term_start4 = 5 May 2017 | term_end4 = 5 May 2022 | preceded4 = Owen Watkin James | succeeded4 = ''Ward Abolished'' | successor = | birth_date = {{birth based on age as of date|28|2020|11|30}}<ref>{{cite news |title=Pembrokeshire County councillor Sam Kurtz of Scleddau is Welsh Conservatives' Senedd candidate |url=https://www.westerntelegraph.co.uk/news/18909240.pembrokeshire-county-councillor-sam-kurtz-scleddau-welsh-conservatives-senedd-candidate/ |work=Western Telegraph |date=30 November 2020 |first=Ruth |last=Davies}}</ref> | birth_place = | birth_name = | party = [[Welsh Conservative Party|Welsh Conservatives]] | other_party = | spouse = | relations = | children = | alma_mater = [[University of the West of England]] | occupation = | profession = | cabinet = | committees = | portfolio = | signature = | signature_alt = | website = {{URL|www.samuelkurtz.wales}} | footnotes = }} '''Samuel Kurtz''' (usually known as '''Sam Kurtz''') is a [[Welsh Conservatives|Welsh Conservative]] politician who was [[Member of the Senedd]] (MS) for [[Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire (Senedd Cymru constituency)|Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire]] from 2021 to 2026. He also previously served as a [[Pembrokeshire County Council|Pembrokeshire County Councillor]] from 2017 to 2022, representing Scleddau ward.
While a Member of the Senedd, Kurtz held a number of Shadow Cabinet positions, holding the portfolio for Rural Affairs from 2021 to 2024 and Economy and Energy from 2024 to 2026.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Price |first=Emily |date=2024-04-18 |title=Welsh Conservatives reshuffle shadow cabinet |url=https://nation.cymru/news/welsh-conservatives-reshuffle-shadow-cabinet/ |access-date=2024-05-25 |website=Nation.Cymru |language=en-GB |archive-date=18 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240618195154/https://nation.cymru/news/welsh-conservatives-reshuffle-shadow-cabinet/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=2024-04-18 |title=‘Let’s get the dragon that is the Welsh economy breathing fire once again!’ |url=https://www.pembroke-today.co.uk/news/politics/samuel-kurtz-lets-get-the-dragon-that-is-the-welsh-economy-breathing-fire-once-again-681044 |access-date=2024-05-25 |website=Pembroke And Pembroke Dock Observer |archive-date=25 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240525111433/https://www.pembroke-today.co.uk/news/politics/samuel-kurtz-lets-get-the-dragon-that-is-the-welsh-economy-breathing-fire-once-again-681044 |url-status=live }}</ref> He retained the portfolio for the Welsh Language for the entirety of his term, except for between April and December 2024.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-12-12 |title=New Welsh Conservatives leader Darren Millar MS announces shadow cabinet |url=https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2024-12-12/new-welsh-conservatives-leader-darren-millar-ms-announces-shadow-cabinet |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241212171525/https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2024-12-12/new-welsh-conservatives-leader-darren-millar-ms-announces-shadow-cabinet |archive-date=2024-12-12 |access-date=2024-12-16 |work=ITV News}}</ref>
== Personal life and education == Kurtz studied for a BA in Politics at the [[University of the West of England]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Samuel Kurtz MS |url=https://senedd.wales/people/samuel-kurtz-ms/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240222000651/https://senedd.wales/people/samuel-kurtz-ms/ |archive-date=22 February 2024 |access-date=2024-05-25 |website=senedd.wales |language=en-GB}}</ref> He grew up on a beef farm.<ref name=":6" />
Prior to his political career, Kurtz worked for the ''Pembrokeshire Herald'' and the ''[[Western Telegraph]]''.<ref name=":2" />
== Political career == Kurtz was elected to [[Pembrokeshire County Council]] in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Local Elections Archive Project - 2017 - Pembrokeshire |url=https://www.andrewteale.me.uk/leap/results/2017/419/ |access-date=2024-05-25 |website=www.andrewteale.me.uk |archive-date=25 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240525105724/https://www.andrewteale.me.uk/leap/results/2017/419/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He represented [[Scleddau]] ward until the 2022 elections.<ref name=":5" /> The ward was abolished at this election, and split across the Llanrhian and Bro Gwaun wards.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |date= |title=Election Results |url=https://www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/county-council-elections |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240316210545/https://www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/county-council-elections |archive-date=16 March 2024 |access-date=2024-05-25 |website=www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk |language=en-gb}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mosalski |first=Ruth |date=2021-06-21 |title=Members of the Senedd who are also councillors |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/members-senedd-who-also-councillors-20826610 |access-date=2024-05-25 |website=Wales Online |language=en |archive-date=21 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230121173932/https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/members-senedd-who-also-councillors-20826610 |url-status=live }}</ref> He was a press officer for [[Stephen Crabb]] in 2020.<ref name=":7">{{Cite news |last=Shipton |first=Martin |date=2020-12-03 |title=Conservative Senedd candidate apologises for homophobic and misogynistic tweets in student years |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/politics/conservative-senedd-candidate-apologises-homophobic-19393334 |access-date=2024-12-02 |work=[[Wales Online]]}}</ref>
Kurtz was selected to replace the outgoing [[Angela Burns]] as Welsh Conservative candidate for [[Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire (Senedd constituency)|Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire]] in 2020.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |date=2020-11-30 |title=Will Sam be the man for the Senedd? |url=https://www.westerntelegraph.co.uk/news/18909240.pembrokeshire-county-councillor-sam-kurtz-scleddau-welsh-conservatives-senedd-candidate/ |access-date=2024-05-25 |website=Western Telegraph |language=en |archive-date=25 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240525105718/https://www.westerntelegraph.co.uk/news/18909240.pembrokeshire-county-councillor-sam-kurtz-scleddau-welsh-conservatives-senedd-candidate/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Shortly after this, 3 tweets from when he was a student 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”.<ref name=":7" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Shipton |first=Martin |date=2020-12-03 |title=Conservative candidate apologises for homophobic and misogynistic tweets |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/politics/conservative-senedd-candidate-apologises-homophobic-19393334 |access-date=2024-05-25 |website=Wales Online |language=en |archive-date=25 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240525105717/https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/politics/conservative-senedd-candidate-apologises-homophobic-19393334 |url-status=live }}</ref> Kurtz apologised for the comments.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-12-03 |title=Tory councillor Sam Kurtz apologises for offensive tweets |url=https://www.westerntelegraph.co.uk/news/18917788.tory-councillor-sam-kurtz-apologises-offensive-tweets/ |access-date=2024-05-25 |website=Western Telegraph |language=en |archive-date=18 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240618195053/https://www.westerntelegraph.co.uk/news/18917788.tory-councillor-sam-kurtz-apologises-offensive-tweets/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2020-12-01 |title=Senedd Tory candidate apologises for offensive tweets |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-politics-55144680 |access-date=2024-05-25 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB |archive-date=25 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240525105717/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-politics-55144680 |url-status=live }}</ref> He was elected as MS for the constituency at the [[2021 Senedd election]]s, with a majority of 936.<ref>{{cite news |date=7 May 2021 |title=Carmarthen West & Pembrokeshire South |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2021/wales/constituencies/W09000016 |access-date=7 May 2021 |agency=BBC News |archive-date=7 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507103711/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2021/wales/constituencies/W09000016 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Jenkins |first=Katy |date=7 May 2021 |title=Senedd 2021: Sam Kurtz, Conservative, takes Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire seat |url=https://www.westerntelegraph.co.uk/news/19287834.senedd-2021-sam-kurtz-conservative-takes-carmarthen-west-south-pembrokeshire-seat/ |access-date=8 May 2021 |work=Western Telegraph |archive-date=18 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240618195052/https://www.westerntelegraph.co.uk/news/19287834.senedd-2021-sam-kurtz-conservative-takes-carmarthen-west-south-pembrokeshire-seat/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
From his election until 2024 he was the Welsh Conservatives' Shadow Rural Affairs and [[Welsh language]] Minister in the [[Senedd]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2023-11-24 |title=Samuel Kurtz: 'Welsh farmers need a Welsh Government that is going to support the industry' {{!}} Farm News {{!}} Farmers Guardian |url=https://www.farmersguardian.com/blog/4150288/welsh-farming-needs-friend |access-date=2024-01-29 |website=www.farmersguardian.com |language=en |archive-date=29 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240129212048/https://www.farmersguardian.com/blog/4150288/welsh-farming-needs-friend |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2022-09-30 |title=Samuel Kurtz MS Archives |url=https://www.iwa.wales/authors/samuel-kurtz-ms/ |access-date=2024-01-29 |website=Institute of Welsh Affairs |language=en-US |archive-date=29 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240129211846/https://www.iwa.wales/authors/samuel-kurtz-ms/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Kurtz has been the Conservatives' Shadow Minister for Economy and Energy since April 2024.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" /> In December 2024, the Welsh Language was re-added to his portfolio.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-12-12 |title=New Welsh Conservatives leader Darren Millar MS announces shadow cabinet |url=https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2024-12-12/new-welsh-conservatives-leader-darren-millar-ms-announces-shadow-cabinet |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241212171525/https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2024-12-12/new-welsh-conservatives-leader-darren-millar-ms-announces-shadow-cabinet |archive-date=2024-12-12 |access-date=2024-12-16 |work=ITV News}}</ref> He is also a member of two Senedd Committees: the Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee and the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee.<ref name=":2" /> 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.<ref name=":2" /> He also chairs cross party groupings on rural growth and shooting and conservation.<ref name=":2" />
Kurtz contested the [[Ceredigion Penfro (Senedd constituency)|Ceredigion Penfro]] constituency in the [[2026 Senedd election]] but was not elected.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-09-03 |title=Pembrokeshire set to be paired with Ceredigion in new look constituencies |url=https://www.tenby-today.co.uk/news/pembrokeshire-set-to-be-paired-with-ceredigion-in-new-look-constituencies-for-the-senedd-718543 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250121182446/https://www.tenby-today.co.uk/news/pembrokeshire-set-to-be-paired-with-ceredigion-in-new-look-constituencies-for-the-senedd-718543 |archive-date=2025-01-21 |access-date=2025-09-20 |work=Tenby Observer |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Mosalski |first1=Ruth |title=The 16 politicians who lost their seats at Senedd 2026 |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/politics/16-politicians-who-lost-seats-33915840 |work=Wales Online |date=8 May 2026 |language=en}}</ref>
== Political views ==
=== Wales and The Constitution === Kurtz has backed the increase in size of the Senedd, against his party's policy, although he said this should not happen during a cost of living crisis.<ref name=":8">{{Cite news |date=2022-03-31 |title=Conservative backs Senedd expansion, against party policy |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-60940659 |access-date=2024-12-02 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> He further said that "we need to have a look at how the UK is set up" and described the existing constitutional settlement as "a mish mash".<ref name=":8" />
=== Agriculture === Kurtz opposes the "Family Farms Tax".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sinclair |first=Tom |date=2025-09-09 |title=Samuel Kurtz calls on new Environment Secretary to back farmers |url=https://pembrokeshire-herald.com/121449/samuel-kurtz-calls-on-new-environment-secretary-to-back-farmers/ |access-date=2025-09-20 |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Notes == {{notelist}}
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{s-start}} {{s-par|wal}} {{s-bef | before= [[Angela Burns]] }} {{s-ttl | title=[[Members of the Senedd|Member of the Senedd]] for <br />[[Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire (Senedd Cymru constituency)|Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire]] | years=[[2021 Senedd election|2021]] – [[2026 Senedd election|2026]] }} {{s-aft | after = Constituency abolished }} {{s-end}} {{Welsh MSs 2021–2026|state=collapsed}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kurtz, Samuel}} [[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Conservative Party members of the Senedd]] [[Category:Wales MSs 2021–2026]] [[Category:Welsh Conservative councillors]] [[Category:People from Pembrokeshire]] [[Category:Welsh-speaking politicians]]