Todd Smith will run in new Bay of Quinte riding
Administrator | Jul 14, 2016 | Comments 9
Todd and Tawnya Smith at Thursday’s announcement
It was a last hurrah for Progressive Conservatives in Prince Edward-Hastings.
The riding, which first came into existence for the 1999 provincial election, will not exist when Ontarians go to the polls in 2018. It’s being split into the Bay of Quinte and Hastings-Lennox & Addington ridings as a part of the redistribution process and to follow the federal election boundaries.
Local Tories filled Terra Cello Winery in Bloomfield on Thursday night to send off the old riding and bring in the new.
At the event, current MPP Todd Smith announced he will seek election in Bay of Quinte riding in the next provincial election.
“This decision was a tough one,” said Smith. “The last five years representing Hastings and Prince Edward counties has given me a sense of appreciation for every community and each constituent I met. The closer I got to this decision, the less I wanted to make it.”
Smith, a resident of Quinte West, said part of his decision was made due to people in the area who urged him to run in Bay of Quinte in 2018.
Smith joked one of his most difficult political decisions to come will occur Friday nights when he has to choose between wearing his Wellington Dukes jersey, or, sport his Trenton Golden Hawks sweater.
Meanwhile, Tories in the new Hastings-Lennox & Addington riding will hold an open nomination to decide who will carry the PC banner in the next provincial election.
“I look forward to seeing the next generation of leadership that Hastings-Lennox & Addington decides to nominate for 2018,” said Smith. “This is an opportunity for new voices to come to the table and help change the future of our province.”
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The comments were appropriate. We have stretched inclusion to the point that any negative statements or thoughts are cleansed.
Off topic yes, not so sure what was said was wrong however.
I agree with Sam – thanks! Sad to think there are people like that in this community, but happy to know that we don’t tolerate them.
Sue, thank you for removing the racist and inappropriate comments that were posted here earlier.
I am just planting the seed of speculation. As I stated in my first comment – politics makes very strange bed-fellows. Just remember where you heard it first! (;})
What would he run as Dennis, an NDP or Independent? No way the Liberals would have him and Smith represents the Tories. Old mayors don’t usually step up, they generally step down.
Emily – you could be right, who knows for sure? However, I still believe he’ll take a run at it – we’ll just have to wait and see.
I do not see that scenario at all. The Mayor is a senior, shows no signs at all of being Liberal and could not unseat the Tory Smith. It’s a non starter.
Well this leaves the door open for many local politicians to throw their hat into the race for the new riding. My money is on our own Mayor Quaiff being there come the deadline – it is obvious he has been planning this for some time. We all knew that the riding had to change to reflect the federal set up. It is a clear case of politics making strange bed-fellows – in this case very strange ones indeed! Frankly, I’m not excited about any of our local politicians running for a higher office – at least not yet! If the provincial election coincides with the municipal one – I wonder who will file to run in both, just to cover themselves? This shouldn’t be allowed, but it happens all the time.