With only an hour to spare, Brad Cabana submitted his nomination papers Monday morning for the leadership of the PC Party of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Cabana, a former Saskatchewan mayor, former military officer and Random Island resident, said he’s “in it to win” against Premier Kathy Dunderdale.
However, within hours of nominations closing, it seemed like Cabana might not be in it at all.
PC party leadership nominations require 50 signatures from party members and a non-refundable fee of $5,000.
Cabana submitted a nomination with more than 70 signatures, but according to the party’s constitution, it seems like many of them will not be valid.
Cabana said he believes the party has an “open membership” policy, where any resident who agrees with the aims and policies of the party can be a member.
“The party is all the people of Newfoundland and Labrador. If you show an interest, you can walk into any party meeting and vote,” he said.
“I understand recently that there was a nomination meeting, and that in the nomination meeting, a bunch of guys came from across the way from the bingo hall. They just came in to vote because that is the political system here.”
However, the party’s constitution dictates that to be a member, you must be part of an affiliated organization, such as a district association, or the party’s youth wing or women’s caucus.
Leadership convention co-chairman Shawn Skinner said if Cabana’s signatures don’t meet that standard, he won’t be on the ballot.
“For those of us engaged and involved with the party, we would know the constitution and what the constitution requires,” he said.
“If he hasn’t been around the party or he hasn’t done his homework on it, then I guess that’s his issue.”
Cabana said most of the signatures he submitted won’t meet the party’s members hip standard. But he said if he is disqualified, he’ll take the matter to court.
But MUN political science professor Chris Dunn said Cabana may not even make it that far.
“I have trouble seeing a court dealing with the internal machinations of the party,” he said. “That’s the first issue to deal with.”
Dunn said that if the case winds up in court, it will likely not be too much of an issue for the PC Party, because Cabana is someone without any public profile or perceived credibility.
“I think this story has a shelf life of three or four days,” he said. “I don’t think he’d play much of a factor.”
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For his part, speaking to reporters outside the PC Party headquarters, Cabana said he believes he can win the leadership race, and that he aims to model his leadership in the style of former premier Danny Williams.
“I think we need just fire in the belly leadership like Danny Williams provided,” he said. “I have experience in the political process, in the party nationally, provincially, locally.”
Cabana served as mayor of Elstow, Sask., for nine years while he was an officer in the Canadian Armed Forces there.
He was heavily involved in the anti-GST movement as mayor and he said his public opposition to the prime minister led to his retirement from the Canadian military.
Cabana has lived in Newfoundland for about a year and said he’s involved in the provincial and federal conservative parties.
He has also been a prolific political writer on his blog, Rock Solid Politics, since April of 2010.
Cabana is on the executive of the Random Island district association and was a delegate at the last provincial convention.
Dunderdale, the only other registered candidate in the leadership race, declined to comment on Cabana’s candidacy.
jmcleod@thetelegram.com
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Craig...oops Scott, go back to the 5th floor and continue with your job!! Go straighten out your own party!! Oh yeh is that the Liberals or the NDP...wouldn't be surprised to see your initials on Brads nomination papers!! First it was Kathy's appearance, now its her education!! What next...maybe she doesn't go to the "right" restaurants!! Can only imagine what your education is...easy to tell from reading most of your posts!! Bring on a convention...no brainer!!