Bailie declares candidacy for PC Party leadership
Posted Jun 7, 2010 03:09:56 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The provincial Tories have their first candidate interested in leading the party.
Jamie Baillie has thrown his hat into the ring for the October leadership convention.
“So this is what the best-kept secret in Nova Scotia looks like,” joked Baillie at the NSCC Waterfront Campus in Dartmouth Monday.
Rumours about Baillie’s potential candidacy have been swirling for weeks.
Baillie says he’s going to rebuild the Progressive Conservative Party and rebuild trust in politicians.
He has a business background, but also brings some political experience to the table.
He was the chief of staff to former premier John Hamm and he is currently the president of Credit Union Atlantic.
Chris D’Entremont was the only caucus member in attendance at the campaign launch Monday, but Baillie says he plans to get more support.
“As you can see from the numbers here today that there’s a lot of support amongst the grassroots of the party itself which is very important,” says Baillie. “But the caucus is also part of the party and I’m hopefuly that I’ll be able to gain more support as the campaign goes on.”
Many former Tories were there, including former Premier John Hamm, Ron Chisholm and Jamie Muir.
Hamm says Baillie is a good candidate for the job.
“He has the experience and the values and the character that Nova Scotia politics needs,” says Hamm.
Baillie will only resign from his job at Credit Union if he wins the leadership.
