Welsh Conservatives will pledge to build “stronger, safer communities” when they launch their local election campaign on Thursday.
At an event in Llandudno, Senedd leader Andrew RT Davies is set to announce that the Tories will field the highest number of candidates on May 5 with 669.
They were the biggest winners in the last Welsh local elections in 2017 and now have more to defend.
Five years ago the Conservatives took control of Monmouthshire.
They have cabinet members in government coalitions in Powys, Wrexham and Conwy, and in Denbighshire, where they became the largest group in 2017.
They also became the largest body of councilors in the Vale of Glamorgan, presiding over the Authority for two years.
But Labor returned to power there as coalition leader in 2019 after internal strife caused eight councillors, including six cabinet members, to leave the Tory group.
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At the 2017 local elections, the Conservatives increased their number of councilors in 12 of the 22 Welsh authorities, including significantly better performances in Cardiff and Bridgend and an increase in the total number of Welsh council seats by 80 to 184.
On Thursday, Mr Davies will describe the last decade as one in which “there has been an incredible growth in the number of Welsh Conservatives campaigning for Wales at the local, Senedd and Westminster levels”.
“This year that expansion will continue to flourish as the Welsh Conservative Party field the most candidates ever in the Welsh local elections,” he will say.
“Across Wales, local Welsh Conservative councilors are working hard to make a difference for their communities.
“I’m excited that more people than ever before can vote for local champions who create stronger, safer communities.”
Whatever the troubles in their patch, you can rarely separate the electoral fortunes of local parties from the larger UK political story.
How voters might view Boris Johnson’s prime minister’s office in relation to the cost of living crisis, the war in Ukraine and ongoing developments at Westminster parties held during Covid restrictions could be crucial.
The leader of the Conservative Monmouthshire Council even called for Mr Johnson’s resignation a few months ago.
Commenting on the start of local elections on Thursday, Welsh Minister Simon Hart, MP, said the UK’s Conservative government is “contributing to Wales, investing hundreds of millions of pounds in creating jobs, protecting community assets and improving infrastructure “.
“Just last year, ten projects across Wales benefited from more than £120m, including the rehabilitation of Aberystwyth’s old college and marina, visitor improvements to Haverfordwest Castle and the doubling of part of the A4119 at Coed-Ely,” he said .
“Only by working together can we ensure Wales recovers from the pandemic and provides well-paying, long-term jobs for all.”
Wales will elect councilors in each of its 22 local authorities next month.
Elections are also held in parts of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
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