Late and messy, PC party handpicks candidate for Prince Edward-Hastings

With just 133 days until a provincial election, the Progressive Conservatives have finally named their candidate for Prince Edward-Hastings. He is Todd Smith, the news voice at CJBQ in Belleville.

In a process that has raised many eyebrows in the riding, Smith was handpicked last week by party officials in Toronto. Others considering running under the PC banner have been told thanks but no thanks.

Particularly stung by the PC party’s decision is Eric DenOuden. The founder and owner of Hilden Homes in Belleville ran for the PC Party in 2007, losing to Leona Dombrowsky while marginally improving the popular vote for the party. DenOuden remained active in the community and was prepareing for a second run. He began gearing up his campaign last fall anticipating a nomination meeting before the end of the year.

Throughout the winter months DenOuden was busy pressing the flesh, organizing workers, preparing materials—but still nothing from the party. Then the party announced it would hold a belated campaign meeting in March. But it was February the party had not yet signed back DenOuden’s nomination papers, which had been submitted many weeks earlier.

Then, three weeks before the nomination meeting was to take place, party officials abruptly cancelled the meeting, citing scheduling problems. By now DenOuden realized the party was having second thoughts about his candidacy—but he was confident he would compete well in a nomination race.

Rumours were already swirling suggesting the party was looking for a “star” candidate. Two weeks ago party officials asked DenOuden to withdraw his candidacy for the nomination.

When it became clear DenOuden wouldn’t go quietly, the party denied his application with no explanation.

On Wednesday Smith announced he would seek the nomination for Prince Edward-Hastings.There will be no contested nomination.

In a letter to party members, Den Ouden said he believes they have been robbed of a fundamental fairness.

“I believed, as you did, that your membership in the party entitled you to a vote for the candidate of your choice to represent you,” said DenOuden. “I believe that you have had your democratic right taken from you.”

Caught in the middle is the appointed candidate, learning quickly the art of praising and skewering at the same time.

“I think Eric is a great man,” said Todd Smith. “He is a well-respected businessman in our community and I think he would make a great MPP.

“As far as the process goes—it’s not my decision and not in my hands. I am not involved in the nomination process. Obviously the PC party wants to win the election. And for whatever reason the party didn’t feel Eric could do it.”

So begins the unofficial race for the provincial seat of Prince Edward-Hastings.

The New Democrats, despite a strong showing federally, have yet to find a candidate to carry the banner in October.

Green candidate Treat Hull is likely to make some noise particularly in Prince Edward County as the Green candidate and an outspoken critic of Dalton McGuinty’s Green Energy Act and his management of energy in general in the province.

Leona Dombrowsky, meanwhile, remains the candidate to beat. Despite general unease—ranging to full-blown anger—with her government and its policies, Dombrowsky remains personally popular and an astute campaigner.

The PC Party in Toronto believes it has improved its chances in Prince Edward-Hastings. It remains to be seen whether local Tories prefer having their candidates chosen for them—without their input.

Candidate Smith

Broadcaster to run for Provincial Torries

Provincial PC candidate Todd Smith

Todd Smith has joined the race as the PC Ontario candidate seeking to unseat Liberal Leona Dombrowsky currently representing Prince Edward-Hastings at the Ontario Legislature at Queen’s Park in Toronto.

Smith can be heard most mornings reading the news on Mix 97 and Rock 107 as well as CJBQ 800 on the AM dial.

Smith joined the local radio station in 1993 and graduated from the broadcast program at Loyalist the following year. He became news director six years ago and is the play-by-play voice for the Belleville Bulls on TV Cogeco.

He’s married and the father of two young children. He has been active with several local charitable organizations including Operation Rednose Quinte and the Lung Association Pull for Kids. He coaches a girls’ minor hockey team and is an active participant in local sports.

He says these activities, along with his experience in the newsroom, put him closer to the issues facing residents of Prince Edward- Hastings.

“Most folks I talk to feel the riding has been underrepresented by Leona Dombrowsky,” said Smith. “I feel like I am in tune with the community, more than she is, in my position at Quinte Broadcasting as news director. I cover municipal councils and issues from the County to Centre Hastings.”

On the big issues Smith is still a bit wobbly on his feet—working at shaping party policy into his own words.

On industrial wind energy and the Green Energy Act, Smith says his party will return local control to municipal governments over where and how many industrial wind turbines will be erected in their community.

On health care, Smith says his party will not cut spending, with the exception of funding to the Local Health Integration Networks.

On education the candidate says his party will work hard to keep rural schools open.

On rising policing costs, Smith blames a faulty arbitration process that places no value on a municipality’s ability to pay for services.

Smith is more at ease when asked to explain how he intends to appeal to voters in just 133 days.

“There is a need for change in Prince Edward- Hastings,” said Smith. “People are feeling it. Living in this community costs much more to live here than it did eight years ago or even four years ago. Most people just want change no matter who it is. “I have a profile in the community through my job at the radio station. Most people, I think, know the name. It is now a matter of getting our message out.”