BRACEBRIDGE, ON – It was the email he had been waiting for.
Federal Conservative nominee hopeful for Parry Sound-Muskoka Alan Fraser confirmed that the nomination meeting for the riding is on Sunday, July 7th at the Bracebridge Sportsplex.
Huntsville Mayor Scott Aitchison, Bracebridge lawyer Alan Fraser, Bala resident Holly Thompson and Mactier’s Meghan Shannon will be vying for support from as many as 1,500 delegates from the area.
Fraser, a lawyer, says there is a lot of work to be done now the date of the meeting has been set.
“Not only calling and mailing people and emailing people but actually seeing people face to face and reaching out and having those in-person conversations,” said Fraser. “That’s the most rewarding and positive experience that one can get out of the nomination process.”
After 12 years of now independent MP Tony Clement holding the seat, there will be a lot of attention turned to this race.
“So it’s going to be very competitive and we need to keep going and campaigning right to the bitter end,” he said.
The balloting system is known as a preferential ballot.
“It’s a preferential ballot where you rank the candidates and from that point, if there is another vote required they will have another vote,” explained Fraser. “It’s a listing of your first choice, second choice, third choice, what have you.”
In the next couple of weeks Fraser will be attending meet the candidate events that have been organized across the area by Scott Aitchison. He says it is all about meeting the people.
“(I want to) discuss issues that are pressing for their concerns and then circle back and see what’s really left for the last push to July 7th,” he said. “And to see as many people as possible and letting them know why I am the ideal candidate to be a nominee and the next MP for Parry Sound Muskoka.”