Real estate agent Jim Burton didn’t hold back with his rhetoric Friday as he announced he is seeking the Liberal nomination for the upcoming byelection in Mount Pearl North.
Burton emphasized his long connection with the city, and the character of the community living in St. John’s shadow.
“In a sense, Mount Pearl is the perfect analogy for the province of Newfoundland and Labrador itself. It’s a place with a never-surrender attitude,” Burton declared. “It is a place when pushed, pushes back twice as hard. Let the resurgence of confidence so desperately needed start right here in Mount Pearl.”
Burton flirted with running federally in the 2015 general election, and he said he’s long been involved with the Liberal party.
The upcoming byelection in Mount Pearl North, precipitated by the resignation of Progressive Conservative MHA Steve Kent, will be an uphill battle for any Liberal candidate. The district has elected Tories for the past two decades, and the Liberals are not doing too well in the polls right now.
Burton said he thinks he can win, though.
He got a vote of confidence from a handful of current Liberal MHAs who attended his campaign launch Friday, including Finance Minister Tom Osborne.
“Jim is the absolute best candidate we could possibly have found for this district. He’s been involved with Hope Air. He’s been involved with Rotary. He’s been involved with so many charities,” Osborne said.
“When it boils down to it, if the district elects the best candidate, the best person for the job, they will have good representation.”
