Re-elected CBRM councillor, not yet sworn in, running for Tories in N.S. election

A newly re-elected councillor for the Cape Breton Regional Municipality has been announced as a Progressive Conservative candidate in the provincial election, a day before he’s due to be sworn in alongside his council colleagues.

A news release from the PCs said Darren O’Quinn, who won his CBRM seat last week with 63 per cent of the vote against opponent Louie Piovesan, will carry the party’s banner in Cape Breton Centre-Whitney Pier.

That seat was most recently represented by New Democrat — and former CBRM councillor — Kendra Coombes, who is running for re-election.

In a statement to CBC News on Tuesday, O’Quinn said it is “common practice” for a municipal councillor to retain their office while contesting a provincial election as Coombs did in the 2019 byelection.

“As I ask for your vote in this provincial election, I will not be taking any pay as your municipal councillor,” O’Quinn added.

A swearing-in ceremony for CBRM council is set for 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Centre 200 arena.

PCs say O’Quinn is a proven leader

The Progressive Conservative Party described O’Quinn in its news release as a proven leader, citing his years of community involvement as a volunteer and listing his activities as a CBRM councillor.

O’Quinn said the riding needs a strong voice.

“I am running to be the MLA to make sure our community is at the table where decisions are made,” he said.

During the municipal elections earlier this month, O’Quinn had called for his opponent to be disqualified for accepting the council nomination without first getting a leave of absence from his job in CBRM’s public works department.

Piovesan said it was a simple mistake that he corrected by getting a leave of absence when he became aware of it.

Coombes was nearing the end of her first term on council when she ran for the NDP in a provincial byelection in Cape Breton Centre-Whitney Pier after MLA Tammy Martin stepped down citing health reasons.

Piovesan also ran in that byelection as the PC candidate.

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