As nominations continue to roll in ahead of the provincial general election, a family trend is forming among Progressive Conservative candidates.
On Thursday, the PCs announced Pleaman Forsey had won the nomination for the district of Exploits. Forsey is the brother of former Tory MHA Clayton Forsey, who represented the district from 2005 to 2015. Clayton Forsey lost the district by 165 votes to Liberal Jerry Dean in the 2015 general election.
In St. John’s West, Shane Skinner will represent the PCs. Skinner is the son of former Tory cabinet minister Shawn Skinner, who represented St. John’s Centre from 2003 to 2011, when he lost to out-going NDP Leader Gerry Rogers.
In Virginia Waters-Pleasentville, Beth Crosbie, sister of PC Leader Ches Crosbie, will carry the PC banner into the general election.
Also on Thursday, Mount Pearl North MHA Jim Lester was confirmed to run for re-election in the district.
On Feb. 26, the PCs will hold their first nomination meeting of the nomination period, as former PC leadership candidate Tony Wakeham and former PC district association head Craig Mason will square off for the nomination in Stephenville-Port au Port. The seat is currently held by Liberal John Finn.
George’s Brook-Milton Mayor Craig Pardy has been named the party’s candidate in Bonavista.
Ches Crosbie, David Brazil, and Barry Petten have all been confirmed as candidates in their current districts.
Meanwhile, the Liberals announced their first calls for nominations in eight districts across the province: Burgeo-La Poile, Ferryland, Humber-Gros Morne, Placentia West-Bellvue, St. John’s West, Topsail-Paradise, Torngat Mountains, and Waterford Valley. Of those districts, only Ferryland and Topsail-Paradise are not held by the Liberals.
Justice Minister Andrew Parsons, Premier Dwight Ball, MHA Mark Browne, Natural Resources Minister Siobhan Coady, MHA Randy Edmunds, and Finance Minister Tom Osborne hold each other riding, respectively, and are all expected to seek nomination in their current district.
The New Democratic Party is in the midst of seeking its next leader, with former leadership candidate Alison Coffin the only person to have publicly announced an intention to run in the leadership race. The deadline to apply for the NDP leadership is March 1, with voting to be held between March 13 and 16.
Twitter: @DavidMaherNL
