Twila Grosse is running for PC Party in the upcoming Preston by-election
Twila Grosse says she was “born ready.”
On Tuesday, Nova Scotia’s Progressive Conservatives announced that the 61-year-old will be their candidate in the upcoming Preston midterm elections.
Grosse worked at Halifax Stanfield International Airport for 36 years and has a background in finance.
“Honestly, I never thought I would do this,” she said. “But now I really feel like I’m ready, and I want to make an impact and help the people in my community and Preston’s riding.”
Grosse said she was approached 10 years ago to apply for the party, but she was at work at the time. She is a lifelong community advocate and lives in Cherry Brook. She has been active in horseback riding for many years and has served on numerous boards, including the Black Cultural Center for Nova Scotia.
“I just see so much potential in my field,” she said. “I just want to be a change maker.”
The by-election became necessary after the resignation of Angela Simmonds in April. Simmonds ran against Zach Churchill for the Liberal leadership last year and lost. A lawyer by training, she has since taken a job at a law firm in Halifax.
Grosse will run against business owner Carlo Simmons, who is running for the Liberal Party, which has held the seat since 2003. Colter Simmonds, a community advocate and local basketball coach, is running again for the NDP. Simmonds received 28 percent of the vote in 2021, just behind Tory candidate Archy Beals’ 29 percent.
Prime Minister Tim Houston, who toured Preston with Grosse on Tuesday, called her “the right candidate at the right time for this constituency”.
“She cares about the community, is passionate about the community, understands the community and will represent the community in a great way as part of our PC majority government,” he said in an interview.
Houston said the focus is now on winning voters’ confidence, but he hinted that Grosse could join his cabinet if she wins the midterm elections.
“She’s an incredibly impressive person – great resume, passionate, smart – definitely cabinet material. But we’re not looking that far ahead.”
Houston has until October 1 to call the midterm elections. While he would not provide more precise details on Tuesday, the prime minister said Preston would have a new MLA in time for the autumn session of the legislature.
