Halifax councillor wins Tory nomination to run in N.S. election
Last Updated: Sunday, May 10, 2009 | 3:42 PM ET
CBC News
A councillor with the Halifax Regional Municipality currently running in the upcoming Nova Scotia election is drawing mixed reactions.
Steve Streatch, who represents the rural district of Eastern Shore–Musquodoboit Valley as a municipal councillor, won the Tory party nomination held on Saturday night to run as a candidate in the provincial election on June 9.
Streatch will run in the provincial riding of Colchester/Musquodoboit Valley. Three other councillors with HRM are also seeking party nominations.
If Streatch loses the election, he'll still be able to keep his council seat with HRM. That doesn't sit well with the municipal candidate who unsuccessfully ran against Streatch in the fall of 2008.
Bridget Boutlier believes Streatch shouldn't be chasing a new job in provincial politics so soon.
"I think that if you're committed to running and representing the people for X number of years, stay with that commitment,” Boutlier told CBC News on Sunday.
While Streatch admitted that running a provincial campaign will take up some of his time, he said he'll still be able to represent his constituents.
“In no way, shape or form I'm going to abandon anyone that elected me regardless of which office I hold,” Streatch said.
Jack Novack, a professor who specializes in municipal politics at Dalhousie University, sees no conflict with a municipal councillor taking a run at provincial politics at the same time.
Novack said part of a politician's job is to consult with constituents. He said there is no better way for Streatch to do that than by going door-to-door during a provincial election campaign.
"Well you're still listening and learning and that's obviously very helpful for someone who is a politician if they're to reflect the interests and desires of their constituents,” Novack said.
