Ross taking leave from BSD board to run for NDP in Brandon West
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 22/01/2016 (3901 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
The Brandon School Division’s board of trustees will run short-handed in the month leading up to the provincial election.
Linda Ross, currently the board’s vice-chairperson, was acclaimed as the NDP candidate for the Brandon West constituency on Wednesday evening. On Thursday, she confirmed she’ll take a leave of absence from her duties with the board for about a month before the April 19 provincial election.
She’s currently the only challenger to Tory incumbent Reg Helwer for the seat.
Last election, Helwer narrowly defeated NDP candidate Jim Murray, who is also a BSD trustee.
Another current trustee, George Buri, carried the Liberal banner and finished third in that race. Helwer won by 146 votes.
Buri said he had a chance to throw his hat into the ring this time as well, but won’t be running again.
“I’ve got a school board job and I’m going to stick to that,” he said.
Ross said she was encouraged to put her name forward by Murray.
“I’m very nervous about the other parties and what will happen to Manitoba if they get in power. I have things to offer and so here we go,” she said.
Unlike city councillors, trustees can take a leave of absence from their position and return if their provincial bid is unsuccessful, which is what Murray did in 2011.
Ross, who is also a psychology professor at Brandon University, will continue to teach her courses through the campaign.
She cleared her plans with the BSD and BU ahead of going public.
“Taking the last month (on a leave) falls right at the end of classes and exams and that sort of thing, and it would be completely unfair to the students to do that,” she said.
“It will get busy. … My friends think I have a peculiar idea of fun,” she said.
» tbateman@brandonsun.com
» Twitter: @tombatemann