Rodney Mercer resigns as Newfoundland and Labrador Liberal leadership CRO

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — Rodney Mercer, chief returning officer for the 2020 N.L. Liberal leadership race has resigned his position amid the decision to continue the Liberal leadership race amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mercer, a former staff member of the Premier’s Office, says he will resume his position as vice-president of the party, which will allow him to vote on party matters.

“It’s more important for me right now to be involved in the decision-making process. Up to this point I haven’t been involved in any of the decisions because the role I was in as chief returning officer, I was sort of removed from the executive board, by my own, according and rules and procedures,” said Mercer.

“Right now, I believe that continuing the process during a worldwide crisis is a disservice to the party, both candidates, and to the democratic process as a whole. Life as we knew it has changed. The world has turned upside down.”

Mercer joins 92-year-old Vera Barbour, after she resigned her title of honourary chair of the leadership race amid COVID-19 concerns.

Mercer says he’s not sure if his decision will make a difference, but he’s glad to lend his voice to the decision-making process.

“It’s the board’s decision. Given that the world has come to a stop, why are we continuing with this?” said Mercer.

“It’s serving no benefit to anyone.”

Liberal leadership candidate Andrew Furey issued a statement on Friday saying he would support a decision to suspend the race by the Liberal party. “Given the evolving nature of our circumstances, if the Party decides to pause the leadership, my campaign would fully support their decision and would reach out immediately to discuss options on the way forward — always keeping the health and safety of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians at the forefront,” said Furey. “We unequivocally support any measures that keep people safe and know that it is incumbent on each of us to conduct ourselves with the utmost caution to help stem the spread of this virus.

Fisheries and Land Resources Minister Gerry Byrne says the extraordinary circumstances presented by COVID-19 are a time when people have to adjust to a new normal. He says if the leadership race can continue, it should.

“We’ve said to everyone, where possible, continue on. Adjust, adapt, and use technology to continue to do business in this province, to normalize what is otherwise a very abnormal situation,” said Byrne.

“Life does go on. Failure to do that, to seek out ways to stop what we can do to prevent life from being as normal as reasonably possible, is a mistake. That’s why the Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador, using technology available to it: this can happen. It won’t be disruptive to COVID-19 efforts.”

The Telegram has reached out to the Liberal Party for comment.

Elsewhere, the New Democratic Party is joining an earlier call by the Tories to suspend the race.

“It’s time for all three parties to put their leadership elections, reviews, and conventions on hold and allow their MHAs to focus their energies on fighting the COVID-19 crisis facing our province,” said NDP Leader Alison Coffin, in a statement. “Newfoundland and Labrador needs stability, not a government in transition.”

Twitter: @DavidMaherNL