Hamilton picks up Liberal banner in Brandon East

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This article was published 05/11/2015 (3936 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Coun. Vanessa Hamilton (Riverview) will challenge two former Brandon city councillors for the Brandon East seat in the 2016 provincial election.

The Manitoba Liberal party announced Hamilton’s candidacy on Wednesday morning.

“I just realized very quickly that this is a young woman who’s absolutely aligned with where we want to take this party,” said Manitoba Liberal Leader Rana Bokhari. “I’m so happy to have her. I’m proud to have her on our team. We’re excited to have her representing the area as well.”

Hamilton was elected city councillor in October 2014, taking over the Riverview seat that had been vacated by Len Isleifson. He is currently the Brandon East Progressive Conservative candidate. The constituency has been represented by NDP MLA Drew Caldwell since 1999. Prior to his provincial role, Caldwell served as Rosser ward councillor from 1992-99.

“For me, it’s about public service and she’s already dedicated herself to public service as a councillor,” Bokhari said. “And I look forward to having her with us moving forward to serve the area in a different capacity.”

Hamilton hasn’t always been a card-carrying Liberal; in fact, just a few years ago, she was the local NDP riding president. She pointed out that she relinquished her NDP membership nearly two years ago.

“There was a period of time where I didn’t belong to a political party, so there is a lapse,” she said. “I feel that people are needing a change, they want to be heard. I feel that the Selinger government has stopped listening to Manitobans and I believe that Rana is there and she’s listening.”

When asked if there are any concerns about Hamilton’s previous political affiliation or views, Bokhari said she has “absolutely zero concerns about it.”

“I’m about good people, and … my door will be open for anyone across any party line for good people,” she said. “I’m not about ideologies. For us, it’s about a value system. It’s a progressive, modern voice, and it’s to get young, dynamic public servants out there, doing the job.”

Hamilton was appointed as candidate, as there was no nomination meeting held. Bokhari said there will be a candidate “celebration” in Brandon in the coming weeks.

Hamilton is a healthy living facilitator with Prairie Mountain Health. Prior to her election win last year, she had two unsuccessful municipal campaigns — as school trustee candidate in 2010 and city council candidate in the 2013 Meadows ward byelection.

In the past year on city council, Hamilton said she has gotten to know the issues of the city and has realized how municipalities are not an independent body, but more “a creature of the province.”

Many city priorities require funding and support from the provincial government, Hamilton said, such as the Keystone Centre, the Assiniboine Community College move, and a new school in the south end of the city.

“There’s many issues that I’m really intimately involved with at the city level, that will help me at the provincial level,” she said. “I do have that rapport with the mayor and present council so I think that would be a big benefit.”

Hamilton will resign from Brandon city council in March, prior to handing in her nomination papers, as per requirements of the Elections Act of Manitoba.

“I just really want to point out to council and all the staff … at the City of Brandon and all the people that voted me in, that I will respect my time on city council and still be a councillor for them,” Hamilton said. “I will keep my being a provincial candidate separate from those duties until I resign.”

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