Councillor to seek Conservative nod

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This article was published 01/04/2015 (3927 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

NORTH Kildonan Coun. Jeff Browaty announced Tuesday he has filed his Conservative nomination papers for the Kildonan-St. Paul riding.

“I am excited to have the opportunity to pursue the federal Conservative nomination in Kildonan-St. Paul,” he said.

“Over the coming days and weeks, I look forward to meeting with existing party members and signing up new ones.”

Conservative MP Joy Smith currently represents Kildonan-St. Paul, but she announced in mid-January she won’t be seeking re-election.

While Browaty has been on city council since 2006 and fits in with the conservative-minded North Kildonan ward, it’s expected he’ll face a tough fight to win the party’s nomination.

Smith has endorsed the only other declared candidate for the nomination, Jim Bell, the former president of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

“I just think (Jim Bell) has all the qualities of honesty and integrity and hard work,” Smith said. “He’s a lifelong friend.”

Bell told the Free Press Tuesday he was “overwhelmed by the support and encouragement I have received thus far.” Bell has the backing of MLA Ron Schuler, whose St. Paul riding sits within the Kildonan-St. Paul boundaries.

“I think we need somebody who will bring people and our community together, and I think that is Jim Bell,” said Schuler.

Both Schuler and Smith are lending their political and campaign expertise to Bell’s campaign.

Smith’s endorsement of Bell comes as a surprise. Before Browaty was elected to city council, he worked on Smith’s team when she was first elected as an MP and later worked in her constituency office.

Smith also campaigned for Browaty in his inaugural civic-election race in 2006.

Browaty’s interest in the federal seat was apparent in January, after Smith made her announcement. He went directly to the city clerk’s office to determine how running for Parliament would affect his position on council and then informed Mayor Brian Bowman about his interest.

Browaty said he’s spent the past two months consulting family and friends and putting together a team for the nomination race.

The nomination closes at 5 p.m. Thursday. Browaty said the nomination meeting will likely occur on or around May 3.

Browaty will not have to resign from council if he wins the Conservative nomination — only if he wins the election, which is set for Oct. 19.

However, Browaty said he will take a leave of absence from council, including membership on executive policy committee, during the official federal campaign, which is expected to start in mid-September.

aldo.santin@freepress.mb.ca mia.rabson@freepress.mb.ca