Central Nova Liberals, NDP and Conservatives pick candidates
Candidates include a former MLA, and advisor to the PMO and a lawyer
The Liberals, Conservatives and NDP have chosen candidates to represent them in the Nova Scotia riding of Central Nova in the next federal election now that Peter MacKay has announced he will not be seeking re-election.
Sunday in New Glasgow, members of the Liberal Party nominated Sean Fraser, a newcomer to politics. Fraser, originally from Merigomish, has worked as a lawyer in Calgary. He defeated Janet Becigneul, a longtime volunteer for the party.
Former provincial justice minister and former RCMP officer Ross Landry defeated community organizer Katherine Reed to win the nod for the New Democratic Party.
At a meeting Saturday night, the Conservatives nominated Fred Delorey.
Delorey is a former director of political operations for the party and an adviser to Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
He beat out retired principal Jim Ryan.
MacKay has held the Central Nova seat since 2004, and represented the area since 1997. He announced in May he would not be seeking re-election.
Since 1968, the area has been represented by a Conservative MP, save for four years between 1993 and 1997 when it went to a Liberal.
Fraser says he's looking forward to the campaign.
"I have a lot of hope that it's a MacKay riding and not necessarily a Conservative riding. I don't think there's a lot of support for the reform branch of the Conservative Party and I think that was evident in the room today. We had supporters that used to have memberships in the Conservative Party, with the NDP."
Landry says candidates will get to weigh the parties' policies. He anticipates the federal leadership will be a critical issue locally.
"I wouldn't underestimate the voters' desire for change," he said. "The electorate in this area will have a choice, to pick a Calgary lawyer or Harper's candidate from Ottawa or the local guy."
David Hachey will be running for the Green Party in the riding, according to the party's website.