5 competing for PC nod in Humber West

No less than five people including the mayor of Corner Brook are in the running to hold Danny Williams's old seat for the Progressive Conservatives.

Nominations closed Monday for the PC nomination in Humber West, which Williams represented from 2001 until his retirement from politics in December.

Party members will choose a nominee for an upcoming byelection on Wednesday.

Competing for the nomination are Corner Brook Mayor Neville Greeley; high school principal Vaughn Granter; retired army major Dave Wells; retired professor Don Downer; and businessman Mel Woodman.

Both the Liberals and NDP have accused the governing Tories of pushing back a decision on a controversial proposal to burn used tires to help power the Kruger Inc. paper mill in Corner Brook.

No date has yet been set for the byelection, which must be held within three months of the seat becoming vacant.

The Liberals and NDP have not yet nominated candidates.

Before Williams, Humber West was held for 12 years by former Liberal cabinet minister Paul Dicks. The seat was held from 1971 to 1979 by former Tory premier Frank Moores.

Humber West is the only vacancy is the 48-seat house of assembly. The PCs hold 42 of the seats, the Liberals have four and the NDP has one.