Seventh person announces Conservative candidacy

 

A seventh candidate has stepped into the spotlight after formally announcing his candidacy for the Conservative nomination in the Prince George-Peace River riding.

Les Shurtliff says he first declared he would run for the nomination back in August after former Member of Parliament Jay Hill announced he would be stepping down from the position.

Shurtliff says some of the key points of his platform revolve around families, lowering taxes and ensuring fiscal responsibility. He says he wants to ensure families are safeguarded by legislation and that the government balances the budget while also ensuring it is open about its spending practices.

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Shurtliff also says that having been a resident of the riding for 39 years he feels the area’s economy needs to be better promoted.

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Born in southern Nevada, U.S., his family moved to the Prince George area when he was in high school. He attended high school and university in the U.S. and then moved  to the riding with his family and eventually settled in Taylor in 1979.

He says he has been a farmer and businessman in the area for several years, adding that one of his many businesses includes a greenhouse where they grow seedlings for reforestation. He has also worked as an chemist with the oil and gas industry in the region.

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There are currently six other candidates vying for the Conservative nomination. The application process to become a candidate nominee closes on Feb. 14th. The Green Party and the NDP already chose their candidates for the riding back in November.

The Tories are scheduled to make their choice March 2nd.