Tories elect new president, vice president

Progressive Conservatives elected a new president and vice president as part of its annual meeting in Charlottetown Saturday.

Charlottetown business owner Blake Doyle narrowly won his bid for the presidency of the party over Sylvia Poirier, who was reoffering for the position. He won by just nine votes.

Doyle said he has many exciting ideas for the party. He said he believes the party will be able to go forward as a united organization.

“My sense is now this issue is behind us, that we can move forward together and I think everybody who aspired to be a Progressive Conservative can align under those values and present a viable alternative for the next election.”

The party also has a new vice president. Morell lawyer Michael Drake won over Geoffrey Connolly, who was reoffering, in a vote of 182 to 145.

Drake said he believes the election of a new president and vice president shows the party is looking for renewal.

“I think Geoff Connolly has done a wonderful job as vice president and Sylvia Poirier did a great job as president in difficult times… but I think the members thought that maybe this was the time for something new.”

Drake’s win is also a win for party leader Olive Crane, who narrowly escaped being subjected to a leadership review during the same meeting Saturday.

Drake worked on Crane’s leadership campaign two years ago and voted against the leadership review motion. His presence on the executive likely means Crane has his support for internal party work.

Doyle would not speak on the record about his position regarding the leadership review question, but Doyle is seen by many in the party as a Crane supporter as well.

Both men said they are excited by their victories and plan to hit the ground running in their new roles on the PC executive.

“Myself and the new president, we’ll be getting down to work right away and the goal will be to reach out to every member and to every Islander and to let them know the Progressive Conservative party is here and is prepared to win the next election,” Drake said.

Here is the vote breakdown

President

Total votes cast - 322

Doyle -164

Poirier – 155

Spoiled – 3

Vice President

Total votes cast - 328

Drake – 182

Connolly - 145

Spoiled – 1

Rubber Stamp: - November 7, 2012 at 10:23:17

This should be interesting! The first words out of this man's mouth was ..I..! May not be much of a team player but not shortage of ego.

Submit a comment

guardain Reader: - November 4, 2012 at 12:50:46

it hads not been a good week-end for Island Conservatives but a good week-end for kings county Conservatives, They controrled the resolution vote as well as stacking the executive , Liberal only worry about ch'town conservatives have no one on Executive from Central queens west to North Cape god Help ordinary Islanders .

Checker: - November 4, 2012 at 08:23:38

Some people just don't understand. Keith Boswell is still talking about the Party and the Party,s role to win elections. Well the Party,s primary role should be to develop open and honest public policy that will be beneficial to the electorate. Until you do so, you will not win another election. Citizens are now looking to the NDP and Green Parties as an alternative because the Liberals and Conservatives have lost the credibility.

Awesome: - November 4, 2012 at 07:41:21

...this is what should happen when private cell phone numbers and emails are passed out and the membership starts receiving unwanted robo calls and emails. Congratulations to all !! ...and in the words of the backroom "This is democracy at work...the people have had their say...AGAIN !!

THINK THINK THINK: - November 4, 2012 at 07:41:19

That's quite the little rant. If you knew Olive you would realize she has gotten to where she is because of her dedication, energy and love of people. That;s what draws people to her. You are providing all these speculative excuses. She's never used them. You certainly sound like one of the rebuffed backroom boys. Your time is finished!!!!!

Garth Staples: - November 4, 2012 at 07:19:38

The CRA polls during the last election were horribly incorrect. Under Olive's leadership and the efforts of her supporters the PC Party gained 40.1% of the vote. The Grit Ghiz party spent 3xs the money to get elected.

questioning: - November 4, 2012 at 05:43:55

this doyle fellow is a businessperson..... i always question such assertions involving the pei business community because in reality there are very few ''real'' businesspeople in this province who have not dipped into the taxpayer kitty of economic development funding, loans, grants and the like.... is he a true businessperson or a govt supported leach?

intobed: - November 4, 2012 at 01:48:03

Olive, I sincerely hope your new executive was vetted against ever having membership in a numbered company that received PNP money. Clean house Olive. Get rid of all the corrupt and self serving manipulators. It will be a long process, as political corruption has gone deep into all political parties' roots. And also, bring in Recall Legislation. We, the electorate, need to be able to "give the boot" to any corrupt politicians who don't listen to us. Political parties on PEI have proven they are unable to do so by themselves.

AGREED

- November 4, 2012 at 04:54:10

AGREED!!!! The corruption has been infesting other areas and institutions and is out of control This type of backroom mentality is a way to overthrow someone like Olive who is open and honest, wanting transparency. Please get rid of ALL CORRUPTION!!! Islanders are just sick of it!!!!! Congrats Olive, please continue to call for more accountability. If it means getting rid of some in your party too, then so be it. Get rid of them then run a government that we can be proud of
Make the Bed

- November 4, 2012 at 08:54:38

Very few, if any have benefited from PNP as much as the new president has. Money was great for those connected enough to receive units, it was even better for the middlemen facilitating the transactions. If you were concerned about vetting start now and look not just at PNP money filtering through but other contracts awarded to companies of the new president, from government and government funded organizations such as UPEI. Live is good when you are connected.

It is up to you now: - November 3, 2012 at 23:59:22

Now that Crane has her people controlling the party executive she will have to accept responsibility for her own performance. No more, the party is not supporting me, the media is against me, the CRA polls are wrong and on and on. You have all the power now Olive, you control the opposition office, you control the party, you don't have to face the party members to keep your leadership, this thing is in your hands. Excuses are no longer valid, time to take responsibility, no more blaming the back room or people in shadows, let's finally see your so-called new leadership, let's see some building instead of dividing and name calling, let's see the people who supported you today come forward to raise the funds required to run an election. Time to stop living off the efforts of others, time to do more than talk, your minions from Morell have carried you as far as they can, it is showtime, you better be ready.