Brian Ramsay wins P.E.I. PC nomination for Summerside-Wilmot byelection

Brian Ramsayhas once again wonthe P.E.I. PC Party nomination for the upcoming byelection in Summerside-Wilmot.

Ramsay, who was the PC candidate in the riding in 2015, won over three other candidates on the third ballot.

• PCs look to build momentum through 'very important' Summerside byelection

• Liberals set date for Summerside-Wilmot convention

The seat was left vacant in August when Liberal incumbent Janice Sherry abruptly resigned, citing family reasons.

About 200 people gathered at 7 p.m. Monday night at the WilmotCommunity Centre for the vote, about 180 of them registered to vote.

SummersideCouncillorNormaMcColeman waseliminatedafter first ballot, while former cabinet minister Philip Brown was eliminated after second ballot.

On the third and final ballot, Ramsaydefeated Jason "Lefty" Gallant, a coordinator at the Summerside Boys and Girls Club, trying out politics for the first time.

For Brown, itputs to rest any bid from him for the party leadership for now. He has said he doesn't think the new leader should come from outside the legislature.

Brown was P.E.I.'s tourism minister under Pat Binnsbut was defeated in 2007 when the Robert Ghiz Liberals came to power, and wasthe only candidate who lives outside the district. He last represented the neighbouring riding of Tyne Valley-Linkletter.

Summerside-Wilmot is an important district for the party Ramsay came within just 30 votes of taking the seat from Janice Sherry during the 2015 provincial election.

No date has been set yet for the byelection.

Other parties prepare

The Liberals will gather for their nomination meeting Wednesday at the Silver Fox Curling and Yacht Club in Summerside, P.E.I.

Three candidates have expressed interest so far for the Liberals.Nancy Beth Guptill and Chris Palmer have been campaigning for about two weeks.Brian McFeely, a Summerside city councillorannounced Thursday morning he would be seeking the nomination.

The Green Party has chosen deputy leader Lynne Lund as its candidate.Scott Gaudet, who ran in the district in the 2015 election and placed third,will run for theNDP.

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