Preston voters head to the polls on August 8

Voters in the Preston constituency go to the polls on August 8 to choose the candidate who will represent them in the Nova Scotia legislature when it returns to office this fall.

Former liberal MLA Angela Simmons created the vacancy when she stopped working barely halfway through her first mandate.

Prime Minister Tim Houston was on hand this week to announce the construction of a nursing home focused on the needs of black communities in the area.

The facility is one of seven, totaling approximately 800 rooms, planned for HRM. All are expected to open in 2025.

Four candidates have entered the race:

• Carlo Simmons, owner of a paving company, is running for the Liberals.
• Colter Simmonds, a well-known local basketball coach, is running for the NDP for the second time.
• Twila Grosse, a community advocate, is the PC candidate.
• Bobby Taylor runs for the newly registered party Nova Scotians United.

The Liberals won the seat in the 2021 general election with 43 percent of the vote. The NDP and PC candidates each won the support of about 28 percent of voters.

Timing questioned

NDP leader Claudia Chender is pleased that her party has the only candidate with campaign experience.

“Colter ran ahead of us last time and he came away with almost 30 percent, so he’s capable of winning it,” Chender said. “And we feel he is an incredible option for the people of Preston.”

But Chender is less enthusiastic about the timing of this campaign.

“This government is continuing the kind of old style cynical politics where they make a bunch of big money announcements just before they ask people to vote,” she said.

“I also think mid-summer is not a good time for an election. I think this by-election should have been called immediately when the seat became vacant in April.”

Liberal leader Zach Churchill echoed that sentiment.

“Tim Houston seems to be really trying to reduce voter turnout,” Churchill said.

“It’s August and people are just coming off the long weekend. I think he’s doing that because he thinks it will give him a political advantage. These elections should have been held months ago.”

Timing defended

Both opposition leaders are calling on voters in Preston to send a strong message to the Houston government about what they see as inaction on rising prices and persistent shortages of housing and doctors.

PC leader Tim Houston was unavailable Friday, leaving cabinet colleague Barbara Adams to answer questions.

The Minister of Seniors and Long-Term Care defended the date of the vote, calling it timed to ensure riding is represented at the fall meeting.

“We knew that all parties had their candidates lined up and we’d like Preston to have a voice at the decision-making table, which is why we wanted to get things moving,” said Adams.

Adams, who campaigned with Grosse for part of Friday, called her someone who has been championing her community for decades.

“She is an accountant and understands the importance and value of spending wisely,” Adams said. “She’s also someone who grew up in Cherry Brook and has dedicated her entire life to serving her community.”

Adams said the people of Preston would do well to elect someone to sit on the governing side of the House.

“Because it gives her direct access to all ministers and the prime minister and it helps to raise her voice so if her constituents call her with concerns she can take that straight to myself and others so we can take a look at what the problems for her community.”

How driving has voted in the past

Riding has been represented by Liberals for the past 20 years, but PCs David Hendsbee and New Democrat Yvonne Atwell were also the MLA for Preston. Atwell was the first black woman to serve in the legislature when she was elected in 1998.

The riding includes the communities of North Preston, East Preston, Cherry Brook, Westphal, Lawrencetown and parts of Dartmouth.