Major parties name candidates for Pictou West byelection

Nova Scotia's three main political parties have all announcedwho their candidates will be in next month's Pictou West byelection.

Premier Tim Houston called the byelection last weekend, about two weeks after former Pictou West MLA and Speaker of the House Karla MacFarlane's surpriseannouncement thatshe was retiring from provincial politics.

A few days before the byelection call, the Tories selected Marco MacLeod to represent them.

MacLeod isa Scotsburn resident who runs a sawmill and previously worked as a flight instructor and as an engineer and manager for Michelin. Hebested Wes Surrett in a contested nomination process.

On Thursday, Mary Woolridge-Elliott defeated Stephanie Quinn in a contested nomination to earn the rightto represent the Nova Scotia Liberals.

Woolridge-Elliottran for the party in the 2021 provincial election. Sheis a councillor for the Municipality of Pictou County and a bus driver for the Chignecto-Central Regional Centre for Education. Shelives in Seafoam.

• Pictou West byelection set for May 21

• Karla MacFarlane announces retirement from Nova Scotia politics

Also on Thursday, the NDP announced its candidate would beMelinda MacKenzie,a resident of Pictou who works as a teacher and serves as a councillor for the Town of Pictou.

The Green Party of Nova Scotia's candidate is Clare Brett,a professional musician with a focus on children's and family entertainment who ranfor the partyin the 2021 provincial election.

Election day for the byelection isMay 21, however early voting has started at the Pictou West returning office at 49 Pine Tree Rd. in Pictou.

MacFarlane served the district as MLAafter first being elected in the 2013 provincial election, and was subsequently re-elected in the 2017 and 2021 general elections. She won her last election with 64 per cent of the vote.

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