Steve Ashton: Time for unity

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This article was published 09/03/2015 (4112 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

HIS leadership hopes thwarted on the first ballot, Steve Ashton pleaded for party solidarity Sunday and pledged to work with whomever was elected leader.

“The key message I had was unity, and that applies win, lose or draw,” said Ashton as he released his delegates, allowing them to vote how they wanted on the second ballot.

Many, nearly 200, failed to vote at all on the second ballot, adding fuel to speculation Ashton’s delegate support was soft. Though he signed up hundreds of members and won several big-delegate ridings during the long string of delegate-selection meetings, some of his delegates failed to follow through with a vote at Sunday’s convention.

For much of the campaign, Ashton was the front-runner, though he failed to pick up much support among party stalwarts, and his supporters made up the smallest gaggle on the convention floor.

Ashton, the Thompson MLA and former infrastructure minister, fell 73 votes short in first balloting, following a speech that emphasized the need to overcome the party’s recent turmoil.

Ashton would not offer any criticism of rivals Theresa Oswald or Premier Greg Selinger. Ashton said he hasn’t badmouthed either rival during what’s been a divisive race.

“My campaign ended 20 minutes ago, and I’m not going to start now,” said Ashton.

Shortly after the announcement, the United Fire Fighters of Winnipeg, strong Ashton supporters, walked a short distance over to Selinger’s area on the convention floor, indicating they were throwing their weight behind the premier in the second ballot.

 

— Mary Agnes Welch