Falls federal riding field taking shape
The race to become the next Niagara Falls MP is heating up.
With the retirement of veteran Conservative MP Rob Nicholson, the Niagara Falls riding is being viewed as a wide-open race.
During the weekend, city councillor Mike Strange announced he will run as an independent, while the Tories chose Tony Baldinelli to be their candidate.
Baldinelli is the senior manager of communications and stakeholder relations with the Niagara Parks Commission.
In May, the New Democratic Party nominated teacher, coach and community volunteer Brian Barker to wave the orange flag.
The Liberals have not chosen their candidate, said the party’s riding chairwoman Janet Kilty, adding a nomination meeting has yet to be scheduled.
The Greens have not chosen their candidate but riding chief executive officer Karen Fraser said a nomination and annual general meeting has been scheduled for July 17.
Nicholson announced in an April interview with The Niagara Falls Review that he would not seek another term as MP during this fall's election, putting an end to his 24-year federal career.
Baldinelli said it was Nicholson who encouraged him to put his name forward as a potential Conservative candidate.
He said the decision to run was made after some conversations with family and friends.
Baldinelli said he worked for Nicholson for almost six years and described him as a “perfect mentor to learn from.”
“He’s the embodiment of what is good in politics. It’s about helping people and he truly is that gentleman.”
Baldinelli said during the upcoming campaign, he looks forward to sharing a “positive Conservative vision” with local voters and how it will help the Niagara Falls riding by putting “people before government.”
“It’s about a plan to help people actually get ahead, not just get by,” he said.
Strange said running as an independent will be “an uphill battle” because he won’t have the fundraising power of a major political party behind him.
However, Strange said he believes people are becoming increasingly tired of partisan party politics and with no incumbent in the Niagara Falls riding race, he can win.
“If you speak out against your party, you’re going to get ousted and (what they’re proposing) might not be in line with what’s happening in your riding,” he said of party politics.
“I’m here for Niagara and Niagara alone.”
Strange wanted to be the Progressive Conservative candidate in the 2018 provincial election but was notified by the party that he would not be permitted to stand for them due to some material on his Facebook page they deemed to be problematic.
A 2009 Facebook photo of Strange and a friend wearing blackface while masquerading as African American tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams during a Halloween party weighed heavily in the PC party’s decision not to allow Strange to stand for the nomination.
At the time, Strange said it was a mistake, adding he didn’t mean to offend anyone, he’s not a racist and those who know him can attest to that.
Strange once again addressed the issue Monday, saying he’s confident the public knows “who I am and what I stand for.”
“I don’t have a racist bone in my body.”
Barker said he’s looking forward to running a campaign “for young people, seniors and working people.”
“That means tackling housing affordability, making sure jobs in Niagara come with a living wage, and having a plan for climate change that preserves what makes Niagara one of the top tourism destinations in the world,” he said.
Barker’s campaign also sent out a press release Monday, welcoming Strange to the race.
“As we all know, this race is wide open and it’s going to come down to who works the hardest,” said Barker.
“Mike and I may not agree on certain policies, but he’s always been a hard worker for the City of Niagara Falls and in his charitable work.”