NOVA SCOTIA
ELECTION 2009
By Yvette d'Entremont - The Weekly News
As Nova Scotia's 38th provincial election draws closer and candidate signs in shades of blue, white, red, orange and green crop up on lawns, a number of local races have captured the interest of political junkies.
This will be the third time that residents in Waverley-Fall River-Beaver Bank see the names of current NDP MLA Percy Paris and former Conservative MLA Gary Hines on their ballots. The two squared off in 2003, with Hines taking the seat. In 2006, Paris was given the nod when he defeated Hines by 507 votes.
Also running in this riding are Green Party candidate Damon Loomer and Liberal candidate Bill Horne. Horne is a long- serving community volunteer and recently retired from a 37 year career with Environment Canada.
In Hammonds Plains-Upper Sackville, Conservative MLA Barry Barnet will face off for the second time against NDP candidate Mat Whynott.
Barnet represented the area municipally from 1993 until 1999 when he entered provincial politics. During the 2006 provincial election, Barnet's 3,704 votes pushed him 526 votes ahead of Whynott, his closest competitor.
Whynott has worked as an outreach assistant at the NDP Caucus office since 2005.
Liberal candidate Patrick Doyle is also running in Hammonds Plains-Upper Sackville. He owns DoyleCam Productions, described as a successful film and video production services company. The Green Party candidate in the area is Shawn Redmond.
| * ADVANCE POLL: Electors who might be away on election day can vote at the advance poll, which is held on the Friday and Saturday just before election day. Dates: Friday, June 5 and Saturday, June 6. Times: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. * INFORMATION: Contact the returning office at www.electionsnovascotia.ns.ca/09 election.asp to find your polling location. * ELECTION DAY: Polls will be open on election day, June 9, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. |
In Bedford-Birch Cove, Conservative MLA and former longtime municipal councillor Len Goucher is defending his seat against Liberal candidate Kelly Regan, NDP candidate Brian Mosher and Aviva Silburt from the Green Party.
Regan, wife of federal Liberal MP Geoff Regan, has worked as a journalist, TV news director, documentary producer and public affairs professional.
Mosher is a mortgage specialist and senior credit manager.
In the riding of Timberlea-Prospect, New Democrat Bill Estabrooks won the 2006 election, as he did in the previous three polls. Gina Byrne, who ran unsuccessfully in HRM's municipal election, will carry the PC standard, Thomas Trappenberg will represent the Greens and Lisa Mullin the Liberals.
The riding of Sackville-Cobequid has been an NDP stronghold since 1984, and current MLA Dave Wilson has held the seat since 2003. He'll face off against Conservative candidate Jessica Alexander, Liberal candidate Scott Hemming and Green candidate Elizabeth Nicolson.
Alexander recently served two terms as president of the Sackville Cobequid Progressive Conservative Association, and has worked for social services and with the non-profit sector.
Hemming works and volunteers with people with disabilities and has served as executive director of the Hepatitis Outreach Society and past national president of the Hepatitis C Society of Canada.
ydentremont@hfxnews.ca
