There are three nominees looking to potentially fill the big shoes being left by Ted Arnott in provincial politics.
The Wellington-Halton HIlls Progressive Conservative (PC) Riding Association will be choosing a candidate for the next provincial election on Feb. 15, said Glenna Smith, riding association president.
Arnott has been the longtime MPP for the riding, but announced last year he would not seek re-election whenever the next provincial election is held.
There are three nominees looking to be the candidate: Kyle Coffey, Ross McKenzie and Joseph Racinsky.
Former Centre Wellington councillor and mayoral candidate Bob Foster was also pre-vetted as a nominee, but he confirmed in a phone call that he would not be seeking the nomination, thanking Arnott for his years and service and wishing best of luck to the other candidates.
According to LinkedIn, Coffey is an economic development and research officer with the Town of Oakville. His profile said he lives in Fergus and went to Wilfrid Laurier University for business administration.
McKenzie worked for the province for 17 years, including 10 at Queen’s Park, for the Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, according to his nominee website. It said he's lived in the riding for 28 years.
A press release from Racinsky said he is the Ward 2 councillor for the Town of Halton Hills, and has served as a constituency assistant to an MPP and managed the Ontario PC party’s summer internship program.
Smith said the nomination meeting will be at the Rockmosa Community Centre in Rockwood on Feb. 15. It's open to members only and those voting have to have been a member for at least 21 days prior.
A provincial election has not yet been called.
