Veteran Liberals join Church nomination team

Former North Bay city councillor Susan Church has recruited two well-known local Liberals to help her secure the Nipissing federal Liberal nomination.

Don Curry and Michael Gauthier, who both managed election campaigns for Nipissing MP Bob Wood, have joined Church’s quest to succeed her former boss.

Wood announced two weeks ago he was retiring from politics and, after being questioned by reporters, Church made her intentions clear a few minutes after the announcement.

“This has always been my career goal,” said Church, pictured here, who had been Wood’s executive assistant for much of his 15-year run as MP.

Highest regard for ability
Church reconfirmed her aim to secure the nomination Monday, after the Nipissing Federal Liberal Riding Association announced it has put together a candidate search committee.

“I’ve known Susan for many years since I hired her in 1990 to be a public affairs officer at Canadore College,” Curry said.

“I have the highest regard for her ability and her integrity, the way she speaks her mind after learning everything about an issue, and I think the nine years she spent working for Bob and her three years on council make her an excellent candidate.”

Curry managed Wood’s election campaign in 1993, and Gauthier co-chaired the campaign in 1988, the year the former radio broadcaster defeated incumbent Progressive Conservative MP Moe Mantha to enter the House of Commons.

Church has also been a chair of a Wood campaign.

“Mike, Susan and I have been through the wars,” Curry said.

Something to say then
But Church won’t be alone in pursuing the nomination.
Anthony Rota, who works for the National Research Council of Canada, is holding a news conference Nov. 27, at the Inn on the Bay, where he’s expected to announce his plans.

“I’ll have something to say then,” said Rota, from Cal Tech University, in Pasadena, California, where he’s working on an international project.

North Bay chartered accountant Ted Hargreaves and lawyer Hugh McLachlan are also considering running.

Former Callander Mayor Hec Lavigne hasn’t ruled out a run either, although he hasn’t made up his mind yet.

“So many people have called me and asked me to run, and I’m honoured at the amount of support I’ve received, and while I’m leaning toward it I’m still undecided,” Lavigne said.

Family decision
Peter McKeown, general manager of the Rogers Radio stations in North Bay, said he’s also received many calls from people asking him to run.

“I’m flattered by their interest and faith in me,” McKeown said, “however it’s a decision I have to make not by myself but with my family.”

McKeown, who replaced Wood on radio after his election, said being elected MP would give him the opportunity “to give back” to the community.

“And if I do seek the nomination, I’ll be running to win,” McKeown said.

Quality individuals
East Ferris Mayor Bill Vrebosch is also pondering taking a stab at the nomination, and Carol Lonsdale, president of the Temiskaming-Cochrane Federal Liberal Riding Association, said there might be several candidates coming forth from her neck of the woods.

Garth Goodhew, who chairs the candidate search committee, said the riding association hopes to hold the nomination meeting either Feb. 29 or March 6, both Saturdays.

Goodhew said he’d like to see “quality individuals” with extensive community involvement as candidates.

“They should have some practical political experience either through campaigning or by having been involved in campaigns or had some experience with elected politics,” Goodhew said.

“Candidates should also be successful in their current careers, and have a pattern of success.”

History kind
In the end though, Goodhew admitted, the nomination will go to the person who sells the most party memberships and brings the most delegates out to vote for him or her.

While no incumbents will be running locally in the federal election expected this spring, Goodhew said history has been kind to his party.

“I think this riding has been in existence for 82 years federally, and it’s been held by the Liberals for 74 of those years.”