Clarke ready to serve as PC candidate

Details

Published on Saturday, March 14, 2015

Photo by Kate Jackman-Atkinson

By Kate Jackman-Atkinson

The Neepawa Banner

UPDATE: Thursday, Mar. 19 - On March 14, 1,233 PC Party members cast their ballots to select the party’s candidate for the Agassiz riding in the next provincial election. Eileen Clarke, Darryl Gerrard, Sheri Grant and Kelly Wilson put their names forward to replace current MLA Stu Briese, who announced last year that he wouldn’t be running in the next provincial election. Once the votes were tallied, Clarke was announced as the winner.

After being announced the winner, Clarke, a business owner and former mayor of Gladstone said, “I promise I will work hard and do the best job possible… I really look forward to working with the party and for the people of Agassiz.” While party members could cast their ballots any time between 10 am and 3 pm, registration closed at 2 pm, at which time, the candidates took to the stage to deliver their speeches. 

First to speak was Sheri Grant, who was nominated by Don Dufort. In his introduction, Dufort explained that he had known Grant for four years and how in that time, she has been looking for some other ways to help the region. He explained that in addition to running a successful business, she has enrolled in Brandon University to study political science, economics and public policy, become involved in the Neepawa Chamber of Commerce and served on town council.  In all of these endeavours, she has found success he said. “Sheri has been on both sides of the political spectrum, the side making the law and the side challenging the law,” he noted.

As Grant took the stage, she explained her motivation in seeking the nomination. “The bottom line [is that] I want to work for you,” she said. She stressed the importance of retaining services, economic activity and growth in the area in order to retain the rural way of life. Grant said that she would work hard and be a strong voice for the constituency.

Darryl Gerrard was the next to speak and he was nominated by Lisa Pottinger. In her introduction, Pottinger noted that Gerrard would be “common sense, not just credentials”.  She stressed Gerrard’s thorough knowledge of the area, as well as the fact that he and his family chose the area to move to, invest in a business and raise a family. “He’s not here because it’s where he began,” she said.

Gerrard began by talking about his long-term involvement in provincial politics, which started when he was 12 delivering flyers. He explained that despite being encourage to run municipally, he wanted to focus on provincial politics and learn the ropes so that he would be ready for a nomination meeting. He also pointed to his long involvement with the party, including seven years as the local constituency president. Gerrard also stressed his knowledge of the riding, after spending 15 years meeting with residents in their yards, fields, combines and neighbourhoods. In those conversations, he said that he has heard first hand about issues important to area residents, including BiPole III, the school tax credit cap, high water levels, lack of access to doctors and the PST hike. “The NDP tells us that this is a have-not province. I don’t believe we’re a have not province, do you? We’re a have province stuck with a have-not government,” he said.

Kelly Wilson was the third candidate to speak and he was nominated by Brad Hackewich. Hackewich, a fifth generation resident of the area, talked about Wilson’s character. “Kelly is a kind person you can count on to help when there’s a job… [In a tough situation] you’d like to see someone show up, you’d love to see Kelly,” he said. He touched upon Wilson’s work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit to pursue farming.

Wilson talked about his experience building a cattle farm while also working full-time at Manitoba Hydro, as a energy service and sales co-ordinator.  In that job, and his previous one as a sales representative for Mazer Group, he travelled the area. He talked about his motivation for running for the nomination saying, “I have a small business background, that’s not the focus of the provincial government.” He added that as a father of a young family, his main inspiration and push is his daughter. While he was the youngest candidate, he said he would bring new enthusiasm and energy to the job. “My background and experience landed me here today, my goal is to be a spokesperson for you,” he said.

Eileen Clarke was the final candidate to speak and she was nominated by both Jeff Mowat and Ivan Milne. In his introduction, Milne talked about Clarke’s success as an entrepreneur, opening Clarke’s of Gladstone at 18 years of age, and running it for 33 years. He noted, “[Eileen’s] 33 years is more business experience than the total of the NDP caucus.” Once selling her business, Clarke served two terms as mayor of Gladstone, during which time, the town saw $9 million in development. Milne noted that under her leadership, there was an environment in which people weren’t afraid to invest.

Clarke talked about her background in politics, saying when she sold her business, she didn’t initially intend to run for office. “I had high aspirations of what could be accomplished with a plan and a forward council,” she said, adding that they all shared the success of residential and commercial growth in the community. 

During her time on council, she was involved in the Association of Manitoba Municipalities and worked with municipalities across the province. She also had the experience of sitting on committees as the lone rural representative, and lobbying for the needs of rural Manitobans. In some cases, she was able to get projects reconsidered. She noted that she has a proven track record of “not just doing a job, but exceeding expectations”. She concluded, saying that she would be a strong voice for the area and show Agassiz as an example of a vibrant and strong community.

As the votes were being tallied, PC Party of Manitoba leader Brian Pallister spoke.  He thanked party members for being at the meeting and taking part in the selection of a candidate. “A nomination meeting is one of the hardest things, it’s a battle among friends,” he said.

Pallister criticized the NDP for taking advantage of and lying to Manitobans. He compared the government to the Wizard of Oz, “The Wizard is a con man, he depends on making the people around him less than they are… The NDP tells us they will solve all of our problems, they take our money and create more problems.”

There were 2,260 eligible voters in the riding and each registered voter received one ballot corresponding to one vote. The voting was done as a single, preferential transferable ballot in which voters ranked the nomination contestants in order of their preference. A letter to party members explained that if a candidate received more than 50 per cent of the valid “first choice” votes cast, they are named the candidate. If none of the nomination candidates received more than half of the “first choice”, the nomination constant with the highest number of first and second choice ballots will be the candidate. If required, third and subsequent choices could have been counted, but Nancy Cooke, the party’s director of political operations said that the vote only went to a second ballot. The final counts aren’t being made public.

Once announced the winner, Clarke took to the podium and thanked all those who voted and those who helped with her campaign. Clarke credited her success to the help of her supporters as well as all of the contacts she has made as a long-time business owner and through her municipal council work. “I took a lot of time to talk to people, communication is always number one,” she said. 

Clarke added that she was pleased to see so many people come out and vote, especially on such a nice day.

She noted that one of her major areas of interest is seniors and health care, “It’s really important for rural areas, there is a lot of work to be done,” she said. Additionally, business is a key area. “The business world is really important. I’m really excited, I really agree with our leader; Manitoba ready to explode.”

Pallister praised the work done by the candidates and their teams but he also praised the spirit of camaraderie.  “What I liked about this meeting was the unity present in the hall, it’s really wonderful to see.” He concluded saying, “[current MLA Stu Briese] and [former MLA Glen Cummings] have been great representatives, we have chance to continue that.”

ORIGINAL: Saturday, Mar. 14 - At today's nomination meeting, former Gladstone mayor and business owner Eileen Clarke was chosen to represent the Agassiz constituency for the PC party in the next provincial election. Current MLA Stu Briese announced last year that he won't seek re-election.

Three other candidates put their names forward: Darryl Gerrard, Sheri Grant and Kelly Wilson.

Stay tuned for updates.