Premier's advisor Fred Hutton poised to run in upcoming byelection, says PC leader

The race for what will soon be a vacant electoral district on Newfoundland's east coastis on.

David Brazil, PC MHA forConception Bay East-Bell Island and the party's former interim leader is finishing up his term on Dec. 29 after announcing his intentions to step down earlier this month.

That leaves an opportunity, through a byelection, for Premier Andrew Fureyto try to turn the PC strongholdLiberal.

And while nothing official has been announced, current PC Leader Tony Wakeham spilled the beans to reporters on Thursday the final sitting of the legislature's fall session on who he believes is in the running for the Liberal Party.

"I can tell you who the premier's candidate is if he doesn't want to tell you. It's Fred. Fred Hutton. That's who's going to run for the Liberals," Wakeham said.

"It's well known. They've already had one fundraiser for him and apparently he's going tobe on Bell Island on Monday, meeting with the council."

Brazil, who said he's stepping down tofocus on his health, has represented the district since winning a byelection in 2010.

Hutton was a longtime journalist and broadcaster, with stints at NTV, VOCM and the CBC. He has been senior advisor to Premier Andrew Furey since Furey'sentry into politics in 2020 and often travelswith the premier to news conferences and events.

When asked directly by CBC News, Hutton wouldn't confirm his candidacy Thursday.

Wakeham said his party isn't worried about whomever the Liberals put forward. A number of people have already called him expressing interest in a possible run, he said.

"We are well positioned. That's a district that David Brazil has represented well in the last number of years," he said.

"We have a number of people who are interested in representing us in the House of Assembly."

Nominations will be open to anyone who wants to go through the process, said Wakeham. One candidate has already come forward: Tina Neary,currently serving a second term as a town councillor in Portugal Cove-St. Philip's, announced her candidacy on Facebook on Monday.

Download ourfree CBC News appto sign up for push alerts for CBC Newfoundland and Labrador.Click here to visit our landing page.