Career
She was the Welsh Assembly Government Minister for Finance, Local Government and Public Services in the Second Assembly 2003-2007 and retired at the 2007 election. Brought up in Tottenham, she moved to South Wales in 1971 and was at one point leader of Cardiff City Council. Essex was elected Labour Assembly Member for Cardiff North in the National Assembly for Wales"s inaugural elections in 1999 (First Assembly), and appointed Minister for Environment, Transport and Planning in 2000.
She became the Minister for Finance, Local Government and Public Services following the 2003 election.
She announced on 19 August 2005 that she would stand down at the National Assembly for Wales election, 2007. Although supporting Labour candidate Sophie Howe, she was succeeded by Conservative Jonathan Morgan.
