Two local men who filed to run for the Conservative Party of Canada in the Sault Ste. Marie – Algoma riding are not sure if a vote will be held to decide who the candidate will be.
Both Cameron Ross and Michael Gassi put their names forward for the Conservative Party in January of last year.
Neither of them have heard anything lately and both are wondering what’s going on – especially considering new Liberal Leader Mark Carney may call an election next week.
“As far as I know I am (a contestant),” Ross said on Thursday.
“I have not taken my name out. I submitted all of the paperwork a long time ago to be a contestant.”
Gassi confirmed he is also still in the running.
“I'm still seeking nomination, however we don't have any final word out of the regional office. We're still waiting.
"It's been very quiet,” Gassi said.
Gassi and Ross are not sure if there are any other contestants to be the Conservative candidate.
They both said it would be better if the Conservatives were represented by a local person and if members can vote on that person instead of having Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre hand select the candidate.
Both Gassi and Ross said they hope to know who the individual is soon.
“We're all just sort of in limbo at this point,” Gassi said.
“We've raised concern with the regional office regarding belabouring this thing . . . because you know we should have a candidate by now that can be out door-knocking – if we really want to compete with Terry Sheehan.”
Gassi said he’s also heard other names bandied about, but he’s not sure if anyone else has filed.
“We've been told Sonny Spina may be also quietly seeking nomination, but nobody seems to have any answers.
“Cameron and I are the only ones who have vocalized that ‘yes, we have applied. Yes, we are seeking the nomination.’
Reached by phone, Spina would not say if he was adding his name to the list of contestants.
The local riding association referred SooToday to the Conservative Party's national councillor.
Late on Thursday, SooToday reached out to the national councillor, Stewart Kiff, but the call was not answered.
Current Liberal MP Sheehan said he will run again and the New Democratic Party confirmed Laura Mayer is its candidate for the riding.
Arnold Heino is running for the People's Party of Canada.