Former Hot 105.5 radio personality Zack Bell has won the Progressive Conservative nomination in District 10, Charlottetown-Winsloe.
Bell, now a sales representative with Kenmac Energy, defeated two challengers for the nomination - Early Childhood Development Association executive director Sonya Hooper and Sherwood Elementary School educational assistant Susie Dillon.
A total of 398 votes were cast in the nomination contest at the former Sherwood BMR location over the course of Friday and Saturday. Bell won the vote on the second ballot of the vote, held via preferential ballot.
PC officials did not release details of how many votes Bell, or any of the other candidates, garnered in the contest.
In a speech after the results were announced, Bell pledged to work hard for the residents of Charlottetown-Winsloe. He also praised his rivals Hooper and Dillon.
"District 10 should be impressed to have the other two candidates. They were incredible in this campaign."
"I know we can come out of this as a unified force to ensure that District 10 has a strong PC voice in the P.E.I. legislature."
In an interview, Bell did not single out a particular local issue he hoped to highlight if he becomes an MLA. He said residents of the district have expressed concerns about healthcare and education.
“It is a very difficult time right now for a lot of people. I do think that a collaborative approach is the right way," Bell said.
Former Liberal MLA Robert Mitchell stepped down from his role as District 10's representative in the legislature earlier in September. A byelection call could come at any time.
The PC’s have been well ahead of the provincial Green and Liberal parties in recent polls, due in part to voter confidence in the performance of Premier Dennis King during the COVID-19 pandemic.
But in a speech, King downplayed speculation that he might call a general province-wide election in order to capitalize on his political popularity.
“I've read and heard many pundits talking about how they see these things going and apparently about how I'm craving and salivating some type of monstrous majority government,” King said.
“What has demonstrated any desire to see that actually happen? We have been focused solely on doing what is best for Prince Edward Islanders and that won't change."
Although King has expressed pride in working with opposition parties, a win for King’s party in District 10 would mean his party has a majority in the legislature. The PC’s would no longer require the support of the Greens or Liberals to pass confidence motions, if a majority of votes are secured with the support of the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, PC MLA Colin LaVie.
But King said he would still work with other parties if Bell wins the byelection.
"If he is to get elected, we would still need other parties to support legislation," King said.
"As a former political watcher and observer and commentator, it would be very, very bad political advice for me to change the way we do things."
King added he hoped to call a byelection in time to see the representative of Charlottetown-Winsloe sit in the Legislature during the upcoming fall session, slated to begin November 12.
Earlier on Saturday, the NDP nominated Lynne Thiele as their candidate in the district. Zac Murphy has been acclaimed as the candidate for the Liberals.
The Provincial Greens have not nominated a candidate.
On Saturday the party announced plans to hold their nomination meeting on Tuesday, October 6.
