Bell running for Tories in Kildonan-St. Paul

By: Jared Story Posted: 11:00 AM CDT Monday, Sep. 14, 2015

Jim Bell believes his experience with the Blue Bombers will serve him well with the blue party.

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Jim Bell believes his experience with the Blue Bombers will serve him well with the blue party.

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This article was published 14/09/2015 (3688 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Jim Bell believes his experience with the Blue Bombers will serve him well with the blue party.

Bell, the Conservative candidate for Kildonan-St. Paul in the upcoming federal election, is the former vice-president and chief operating officer of the Winnipeg Football Club, serving as part of the club’s senior executive for over 12 years.

Bell was let go by the Bombers in August, 2014 as part of a restructuring process.

Jessica Burtnick/Winnipeg Free Press archives
Former Winnipeg Football Club vice-president and COO Jim Bell is the Conservative candidate for Kildonan-St. Paul. — Jessica Burtnick/Winnipeg Free Press archives Former Winnipeg Football Club vice-president and COO Jim Bell is the Conservative candidate for Kildonan-St. Paul.

“I have a real passion for community and I learned that with the Winnipeg Football Club,” Bell said.

“I loved my time there. As much as I enjoyed game days, all the excitement and anticipation, I found the thing I missed the most was the interaction with the community, be it season ticket holders or people who come to the occasional game.

“I’m drawing on that experience and certainly listening to the community and learning more and more every day. It’s a good fit.”

Bell won the Kildonan-St. Paul Conservative nomination in May after current MP Joy Smith said she wouldn’t seek re-election.

The 56-year-old and his wife Helen have lived in the riding for 33 years — their whole married life — first in North Kildonan and currently in East St. Paul.

Bell said when he’s out door-knocking, he’s often greeted by a familiar face.

“When you go door-to-door, yes, you meet many new people but it’s also a chance to reconnect with people you haven’t seen in quite a while. That’s been a real plus of this project,” Bell said.

Bell said he’s found the voters in Kildonan-St. Paul to be very “sophisticated” with their questions and feedback. He said the biggest election issues that come up at the door are security, seniors’ issues, the environment and the economy. Bell said he’s well equipped to address the latter.

“My background is in finance. I have a degree and an accounting designation,” said Bell, who was awarded the Consumer’s Choice Man of the Year Award for business excellence in 2011.

“I’m not an economist but I follow the numbers, I follow taxation and those types of things. I keep my eye on that from a fairness perspective. I want to make sure the people of this riding are well represented to their concerns with anything regarding economics and finances. I believe I could be a strong, confident and trustworthy voice in that realm.”

Bell said he’ll continue to pound the pavement leading up to the election on Oct. 19.
“I’m doing my very best to listen,” Bell said. “If I’m going to be a strong voice, I better be a keen listener. I learned that from my days at the Winnipeg Football Club and I feel very confident and comfortable with that.”

Also running in Kildonan-St. Paul are MaryAnn Mihychuk (Lib), Suzanne Hrynyk (NDP), and David Reimer (CHP).

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