Update 2: Ridings to Watch: Brandon West

I had prepared this post the week Rick Borotsik made his announcement. I had waited to publish it in the hopes of getting more info. Unfortunately, I haven’t heard any more so here are my thoughts on Rick’s departure. 

His announcement that he won’t be running in the next election caught me by surprised. Even more than the situation in Portage la Prairie, Borotsik’s seat of Brandon West is, I’m sure, one the ridings near the top of the NDP’s target list. Borotsik took the seat away from the NDP and Scott Smith less than 100 votes in 2007.

Given Borotsik’s profile in the region and the seats volatility, this is a big hole to fill for the Tories. Without the incumbency advantage it will be a tough battle for them to keep it.

So far as much as I know the only declared candidate to succeed Borotsik is Terry Jaenen, a local businesswoman "who used to own The Party Professionals and Rental Company."

Other than that I have very little information but certain names I have seen being thrown around are Leanne Rowat, current MLA for Minnedosa and former Brandon Mayor Dave Burgess.

Rowat is currently looking for a new seat to run in given that she lost her seat due to the redistribution. From my very limited understanding of Brandon politics, Brandon expects their MLAs to really be the city’s champion. The fact that Leanne is from the nearby community of Souris and not Brandon proper could potentially hurt her chance in the urban riding of Brandon.

The fact that Burgess just recently loss the mayoral race might hurt his chances as well.  

In terms of running for the NDP, one of the names I have heard is Scott Smith, who held the seat from 1999 to 2007 and sat at the cabinet table.

An article in the Brandon Sun also added these names:

• “Mike Waddell (the eager candidate of record against NDP incumbent Drew Caldwell in Brandon East lives in the RM of Cornwallis anyway, so why not try Brandon West?)

• Murray Blight (the popular Victoria ward city councillor passed on running for mayor for family reasons, so one would think being in Winnipeg for five days a week as an MLA would not be an option.)

• Jim Murray (if the well-known Brandon School Division board of trustees chair ever acts on his purported aspirations to seek higher office, this would be a good time.)

• Ramona Coey (I’m not sure how much political currency the former school trustee has after failing to win a seat on city council. She’s a relentless organizer for the Tories in Brandon West, so she could play a key role behind the scenes for a candidate if she doesn’t attempt a run herself.)”

Update: As you can see in the comment section,  Mike Waddell won't be seeking the nomination in Brandon West but in Brandon East and  Reg Helwer has confirmed that he will be running for the nomination. A quick google search on Helwer finds that he is a " a managing partner with Brandon-based agriculture retailers Shur-Gro Farm Services Ltd." and also a member of the advisory committee to the Rural Development Institute.


Update 2:
Jim Murray current chair of the Brandon School Division announced that he will be seeking the NDP nomination in Brandon West.