Nipissing-Timiskaming Conservatives showed strong support for new leader MP Erin O'Toole in election results announced this morning, but also voted surprisingly in favour of political newcomer Leslyn Lewis.
Local results show O'Toole doubling rival Peter Mackay in round three, but Lewis actually winning round two locally.
"She's was very strong," Gordan Rennie, President of the Nipissing-Timiskaming Conservative Association. told BayToday.
"It's interesting. Peter Mackay, people know him, he had an endorsement from (former MP) Jay Aspin but he really didn't engage the local membership here at all. Erin O'Toole was endorsed by Vic Fedeli, and was a lot of people's first and second choice but Leslyn ran an organic campaign of issues where she reached out to members," noting her campaign team was calling local members.
Rennie also thinks COVID played a role in the race.
"You didn't have the same kind of events you might have in a regular leadership race so there were a lot of emails and phone calls. Leslyn Lewis just really focused on conservative principles about smaller and more ethical government and being honest and she really got a lot of play from party members."
Rennie has studied the numbers, and apart from Parry Sound, which is held by a Conservative MP, Nipissing-Temiskaming had the highest number of members voting in northern Ontario.
"We had quite a strong turnout with 434 members sending in their ballots, and I think the lesson of Leslyn Lewis is party members are looking for change and they respect candidates based on their character and policies."
Rennie feels the national media didn't pay enough attention to Lewis.
"She believes in the Conservative Party and she's had a very strong campaign and we're looking forward to seeing what role Erin O'Toole will give her going forward."
Lewis intends to run for office in the next federal election, which could come this fall.
"She has more than earned a seat at the table to help lead the party."
Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli is happy with the result, telling BayToday O'Toole is a "great guy."
"I have worked with Erin, I have worked in the legislature with his father John O'Toole for six and a half years. They are a great family. He is a great Canadian. He is one of the hardest working guys you will meet, he is passionate. He spent 12 years in the military proudly serving our country. He worked as a cabinet minister for prime minister Stephen Harper. You will find that Erin is a good listener. He is going to make a fabulous leader of the Conservative Party of Canada but he is going to make an absolutely spectacular prime minister. "
“As Erin and the Conservative Caucus lead the fight to hold the Trudeau Liberals to account for their ethics violations and out of control spending nationally, our local efforts will focus on candidate search and election readiness," added Rennie. "We know an election could come at any time.”
Nipissing-Timiskaming turnout was approximately 72 per cent with 434 of the 600 local Conservative members casting ballots.
Round 1
Leslyn Lewis 102 Votes
Peter Mackay 104 Votes
Erin O'Toole 139 Votes
Derek Sloan 89 Votes
Round 2
Leslyn Lewis 171 Votes
Peter Mackay 106 Votes
Erin O'Toole 154 Votes
Round 3
Erin O'Toole 240 Votes
Peter Mackay 122 Votes
