Federal Conservatives locally focusing on candidate selection

Candidate selection is now the priority for the Nipissing-Timiskaming Conservative Riding Association now that the leadership race has wrapped up.

Riding Association President Gordon Rennie tells BayToday the search is on for potential candidates.

“We’re an open party with open nominations and we’re in that search process right now so things are fluid. We don’t know that there will be a fall election but it’s quite possible,” he says.

Rennie also says their past candidate Jordy Carr would be eligible to seek the nomination again.

He says there’s a renewed sense of energy for the party across the riding, with over 600 new members, including over 100 in the north end of the riding.

“There’s a lot of energy there but we need a strong candidate who can connect with local voters, that can connect with our membership and we can all work together to mount a strong campaign,” Rennie tells BayToday.

Durham MP Erin O’Toole won the leadership race on the weekend.

Locally, he garnered the majority of support from party members in the first and third rounds of voting.

(File photo by station staff)