Liberals express interest in Hazelton
NSNU president queried by Grits about Cumberland-colchester nomination
The federal Liberals have reached out to the president of the Nova Scotia Nurses Union ( NSNU) as a consideration for nomination in the CumberlandCol chester riding for next year’s election.
Janet Hazelton, who has served as NSNU president since 2002, confirmed to the Truro News this week that she had been approached by the federal Liberals.
“Just seeing if I’m interested…” she said.
“I really haven’t thought too much about it. I have a job that I quite like. And to be honest I’m not sure.”
Hazelton, who lives in Bible Hill, said it is not unusual for to her to be asked to run as a candidate for the area prior to an election.
During the last provincial election, Hazelton said she had been approached by all three main parties, although so far, only the Liberals have expressed interest for the 2019 election.
“I think about it every time but I have not made a decision,” she said.
Hazleton is the second person to acknowledge having been approached by the Liberal Party on the prospect of putting their name forward for nomination as the riding’s candidate.
Lenore Zann, the NDP MLA for Truro- Bible Hill- MillbrookSalmon River, previously confirmed she had also been approached by both the Liber- als and the NDP during a recent trip to Ottawa.
“The truth of the matter is, both parties have expressed an interest in me running in the next election,” she told the Truro News in an earlier interview.
“So, basically what I’ve said is, ‘thank you and I’m honoured and I will think about it.’”
Zann has served as Truro-area MLA for almost 10 years.
And while she said she is still happy in her current role, the invitation to consider a run for a federal nomination is intriguing.
“I am interested in possibly going federal,” she said. “So, I think I would be interested in representing the larger riding up in Ottawa. I would love the opportunity to do that.”
Bill Casey, current MP for the Cumberland Colchester riding, has said he will not be reoffering when the 2019 election is called.
To date, the only person to publicly express an intention to run for the riding’s Liberal nomination is Casey’s former chief of staff and Truro lawyer Joel Henderson.