Smith chooses office, local assistant

Jordan Mercier leaving Extra 90.5 to work for new MPP

Peterborough-Kawartha MPPelect Dave Smith, who will be sworn in on Wednesday, has a location for his local constituency office: the plaza on Water St. at Marina Blvd.

He also has his first hire for the office: Jordan Mercier will be a constituency assistant.

Mercier, 28, has worked for the last five years at Extra 90.5, where he is news director and show host. He said his last radio show will be on July 20, and he’ll start work at the constituency office Aug. 13.

Mercier has hosted a show called The Regulars, where he has guests such as Examiner reporter Jessica Nyznik.

The radio station will remain committed to “getting as many local voices as possible” on-air after he’s gone, he said.

“It’s not like those hours of local news will go away,” Mercier said.

He also said that although Smith will eventually have a team of workers, so far he’s one of three staff people (one other person has been hired to work locally, and one to work at Queen’s Park).

Mercier said it wasn’t clear Tuesday exactly when the office will open.

It will be at 1123 Water St., in the plaza that also has a Papa John’s pizzeria, Pye’s Buns and Deli and a Daisy Mart convenience store.

Smith said in an interview last week that he wouldn’t be taking over the office used by former Liberal MPP Jeff Leal, on King St. at the foot of the Citi Centre apartment buildings, because it isn’t particularly accessible.

Leal was in office for 15 years, and accessibility requirements increased over that time, Smith said, making it unsuitable for a constituency office of today.

For example, Smith said, the washrooms there were not accessible.

Mercier said this new location will be fully accessible, and that it’s easy to find for constituents travelling from the northern part of the riding of PeterboroughKawartha (the town of Lakefield, for example).

Although Smith told The Examiner last week he didn’t have a government email address or phone number yet, he said he can still be reached through the contact section of his campaign website (www.davesmithptbo.com).

CLIFFORD SKARSTEDT EXAMINER Radio personality Jordan Mercier drops by the future constituency office for MPP Dave Smith on Tuesdayat the plaza at Water St. and Marina Blvd. in the city’s north end. Mercier will be leaving Extra 90.5 FM to work for Smith.