Premier's advisor Fred Hutton poised to run in upcoming byelection, says PC leader
While the Liberal Party is tight-lipped, the PC Party says Fred Hutton — right, behind Premier Andrew Furey — will run in the Conception Bay East-Bell Island byelection. (John Woods/The Canadian Press )
The race for what will soon be a vacant electoral district on Newfoundland's east coast is on.
David Brazil, PC MHA for Conception Bay East-Bell Island — and the party's former interim leader — is finishing up his term on Dec. 29 after announcing his intentions to step down earlier this month.
That leaves an opportunity, through a byelection, for Premier Andrew Furey to try to turn the PC stronghold Liberal.
And while nothing official has been announced, current PC Leader Tony Wakeham spilled the beans to reporters on Thursday — the final sitting of the legislature's fall session — on who he believes is in the running for the Liberal Party.
"I can tell you who the premier's candidate is if he doesn't want to tell you. It's Fred. Fred Hutton. That's who's going to run for the Liberals," Wakeham said.
"It's well known. They've already had one fundraiser for him and apparently he's going to be on Bell Island on Monday, meeting with the council."
Brazil, who said he's stepping down to focus on his health, has represented the district since winning a byelection in 2010.
Hutton was a longtime journalist and broadcaster, with stints at NTV, VOCM and the CBC. He has been senior advisor to Premier Andrew Furey since Furey's entry into politics in 2020 and often travels with the premier to news conferences and events.
When asked directly by CBC News, Hutton wouldn't confirm his candidacy Thursday.
Tina Neary has announced her candidacy to run for the PC Party in the byelection, which will come after MHA David Brazil, right, steps down in December. (Tina Neary/Facebook)
Wakeham said his party isn't worried about whomever the Liberals put forward. A number of people have already called him expressing interest in a possible run, he said.
"We are well positioned. That's a district that David Brazil has represented well in the last number of years," he said.
"We have a number of people who are interested in representing us in the House of Assembly."
Nominations will be open to anyone who wants to go through the process, said Wakeham. One candidate has already come forward: Tina Neary, currently serving a second term as a town councillor in Portugal Cove-St. Philip's, announced her candidacy on Facebook on Monday.
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