NDP chooses Michele McCleave-Kennedy as provincial candidate (update)

Sault Ste. Marie's New Democrats have chosen Michele McCleave-Kennedy as their candidate in the June 7 provincial election.

McLeave-Kennedy was selected over Sara McCleary in voting tonight at the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre.

About 50 party faithful turned out to tonight's nomination meeting, 40 of whom were eligible to vote.

Ballot counts weren't released but former MPP Bud Wildman, who conducted the vote, said it was close.

McCleave-Kennedy is president of Sault Ste. Marie Labour Council and a member of the Community Adjustment Committee that forwarded local concerns to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau when he recently visited here.

She's a proud grandmother and has been an active member for the past decade of Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation, a vice-president of the Ontario Federation of Labour, director of the local United Way, an activist on children's mental health issues and a baseball and figure-skating coach.

Sault MPP Ross Romano, the Conservative incumbent, drew heavy fire – even ridicule – at tonight's NDP nomination meeting.

"In 10 months with an office here and staff here and an office in Toronto and staff in Toronto, all Ross Romano has managed to do is get his photo on billboards," former provincial candidate Jeff Arbus said.

"A vote for Ross Romano is a vote for Doug Ford. A vote for Doug Ford is a vote for cuts to health care, and privatization of services," Arbus told the gathering.

Arbus was also critical of Romano for what he described as an attack on City Council today over the OLG jobs issue.

"He showed incredibly poor judgment in twice backing Patrick Brown. He has been silent. He has failed the Sault."

Arbus also derided Romano for being shunned at a recent roundtable of Sault-area leaders with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau about steel industry concerns.

"He couldn't get himself invited to sit with the prime minister of his country, as MPP for the Sault," Arbus said.

"As you know, I am the Labour Council president and have been for years," McCleave-Kennedy said. "And I did sit with Prime Minister Trudeau."

Romano, on the other hand, was quick to extend best wishes to his new political rival.

"Putting your name forward to run for public office is never an easy decision to make but it is an important pillar to our democratic process," Romano said in a written statement. "I want to commend Michele on her dedication to our community. I look forward to running a campaign that focuses on integrity, honesty and the issues that matter most to the people of Sault Ste. Marie."

Green Party candidate Kara Flannigan was similarly welcoming to McCleave-Kennedy.

"Thank you Michelle for stepping in to work for our community," Flannigan said in a social media post.

Local Liberals have so far not announced details of their nomination meeting.

Party faithful attending tonight's New Democratic nomination meeting included Tony and Anna Martin, Joe Krmpotich, Gayle Broad, Skip Morrison, Celia Ross, Elizabeth Manley and Ted Hallin.