Downtown Saskatoon business leader running for Sask. Party in byelection

The executive director of the Downtown Saskatoon business improvement district is running for the Saskatchewan Party in an upcoming byelection.

Brent Penner was selected to run for the party at a nomination meeting Monday night.

Penner spent 20 years with the Saskatoon Police Service before becoming director of campus safety at the University of Saskatchewan.

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He will be running against NDP candidate Ryan Meili and Sask. Liberal leader Darrin Lamoureaux.

The seat was previously held by Sask. Party MLA Roger Parent, who died in November just one day after the government announced he had been diagnosed with cancer. The 63-year-old had been an MLA since 2011.

In a recent Mainstreet/Postmedia poll, 37 per cent of people surveyed in the constituency would vote for the NDP, while 35 per cent would vote for the Sask. Party.

Mainstreet Research reports 603 Saskatoon Meewasin electors were surveyed on Jan. 20 and 21. A random sample of this size would yield a margin of error of +/- 3.97 per cent, 19 times out of 20.

A date for the byelection has not yet been announced. According to Elections Saskatchewan, it must be held before May 29.