Conception Bay East-Bell Island byelection to be held Jan. 29

The election periodin Conception Bay East-Bell Island has officially begun, with a byelection set to be held onJan. 29.

The province's chief electoral officer issued the writ Saturday, signalling the start of the campaign.

Three candidates have already been named in the race to replace former Progressive Conservative MHA David Brazil, who had held the position since 2010.Brazil stepped down in December to focus on his health after suffering a heart attack in 2022.

Tina Neary, amental health advocate andPortugal Cove-St. Philip's town councillor, has been namedthe PC Party's candidate, a decision that led to accusations from the party'sdistrict association president that leader Tony Wakehamcherry-pickedNeary without a fair and open process.

The NDP has put forward Kimberly Churchill, a Portugal Cove-St. Philip's mother who has made national headlines in her fight to a proper education for deaf children in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Churchill and her husbandfought a years-long battle to ensure their sonCarter could be taught using American Sign Language and won a human rights case against the Newfoundland and Labrador English School District in March.

After weeks of speculation, the Liberals named Fred Hutton, adviser to the premier and a former journalist,as their candidate earlier this month. Following stints at NTV, VOCM and the CBC, Hutton has servedas an adviser to Andrew Furey since Furey was elected in 2020.

Hutton told reporters he took a leave of absence from the office effective in early December.

The advance poll will be held Jan. 22.Polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. that day and on election day the following week.

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