Race for Rideout's riding heats up

Nominations for the race to replace Baie Verte-Springdale MHA Tom Rideout, don't close until Thursday, but CBC has confirmed there are at least four well-known candidates who want the Progressive Conservative nomination. Rideout left politics at the end of June after quitting cabinet in May because of a public dispute with Premier Danny Williams over government spending in Rideout's district. One of the possible candidates is Springdale Mayor Kevin Pollard, who has taken a leave of absence to take part in the race. "I've proven that I can work with the towns, with organizations and with different government agencies and officials and get the job done," he said. Another candidate is Merv Wiseman, current president of the province's federation of agriculture. While he doesn't live in the district, Wiseman grew up in the area.... [read full story]