By David F. Rooney
An engineer with decades of experience in forestry and mining is seeking the federal Conservative nomination in the Kootenay-Columbia riding and will be here in Revelstoke on Saturday evening to make his pitch to local Tories.
Russ Kinghorn plans to meet Revelstoke’s Conservative Party of Canada members at the Sangha Bean at 111 Connaught Avenue beginning at 7:00 pm.
Born in Cranbrook and raised in Victoria, Kinghorn returned to southeastern BC in the 1980s to pursue his career as an engineer. He worked extensively in forestry and managed the Cranbrook Sawmill for several years. He is currently an engineering consultant and former president of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of BC and is slated to sit on the board of Engineers Canada. He is also a long-time Rotary Club member and community volunteer.
Three other men are also seeking the nomination: Sparwood Mayor David Wilkes, Cranbrook lawyer John Zimmer and Creston City Councillor Wesley Graham. A fourth candidate, Radium lawyer Dale Shudra, recently withdrew his nomination.
With the exception of Shudra, none of the other candidates have visited Revelstoke.
Kinghorn said in an interview Wednesday that he will be visiting a number of other communities in the riding, including Nakusp, on his way up here for Saturday evening’s meeting with local Conservatives.
A statement from Dave Reeves of the Kootenay Columbia Conservative Electoral District Association said the riding’s Tories will be voting next week to determine who will succeed long-time MP Jim Abbott as the party’s candidate.
“(We want)… candidate speeches and voting to take place in as many locations as possible because there are hundreds of party members residing in various centers across our geographically large riding,” he said in a statement. “After candidates give speeches, there will be opportunity to cast preferential votes in the travelling ballot box, hopefully at the following times and places:
- Revelstoke Rec. Center, Mar 15, 5 – 8 pm.
- Golden Ramada Inn, Mar 16, ll am – 2 pm.
- Invermere Best Western, Mar. l6, 6 – 10 pm.
- Creston Community Center, Mar 17, 6 – 10 pm.
- Sparwood Causeway Inn, Mar. 18, 4 – 10 pm.
- Kimberley B.J.’s Creekside, Mar. 19, 10 am – 2 pm.
- Cranbrook Prestige Inn, Mar 19, 3 – 10 pm.
“As a fully democratic, grass-roots, political organization, each party member gets one vote, as long as they were registered as members by Tuesday, March 8, and can cast their ballots at whatever time and location suits them best. The final speeches and voting will conclude in Cranbrook, at the Prestige Hotel, Saturday, March 19, at 3 pm, with voting continuing till 10 pm, to accommodate those attending the important Ice hockey game. The winning candidate will have a large advantage in the next election by being able to build upon the very positive legacy left by well-liked, long-time MP Jim Abbott.”
For more information about Russ Kinghorn please send an e-mail to RussKinghorn@gmail.com
