AMHERST - Local Liberals will choose between a campaign of experience and that of determination when Saturday they select the party's next candidate for federal election.
The pair vying for the Cumberland-Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley Liberal nomination, Tracy Parsons - the party's candidate in the last federal election - and Green Oaks dairy farmer Jim Burrows, has been stepping up campaign efforts heading into this weekend's event at Red Cliff Middle School, just outside of Truro.
"This is a seat that we can take this time around, but we're literally going to have to fight for every vote, and to do that we need a candidate with previous political experience who can hit the ground running the minute the writ is issued," said the party's alternate regional director, and Parsons supporter, John Conrad.
He explained that Parsons has political skill necessary for the party to make headway in the now vacant seat formerly held by popular Independent MP Bill Casey.
"After listening to her speak for about five minutes I signed on because, quite frankly, I was tremendously impressed with her grasp of the issues and her previous experience," Conrad said.
Burrows said he, too, brings much to the campaign.
"I have travelled the constituency from one end to the other and no question, the people of this riding want someone who will not be afraid to stand up for what is right. The fact that this riding supported an Independent candidate during the last election is a testament to the fact they want someone who will stand for their interests first and always," Burrows said.
The candidate said many people are asking him what has happened to the federal infrastructure money announced by the Conservative government last January.
Projects in other areas of the country are being announced but "people all over the riding are beginning to be skeptical and are starting to believe that perhaps the government is waiting for the election to announce local projects," Burrows said.
He is concerned that announcements are being delayed for political reasons.
"Is the Conservative government hoping to buy votes by waiting to announce the money once an election is underway?" said Burrows.
Conrad contends the seat is winnable by the Liberals now that Casey has resigned and Parsons' experience would go a long way to helping the Liberal cause.
"I've worked in many provincial and federal elections, but I've never before worked with a candidate with the political savvy and campaign work ethic that Tracy exhibited in the 2008 campaign," he said.
bworks@amherstdaily.com
