Cariboo North NDP’s newest candidate said he has to change gears, put aside some of his ranching activities, and start meeting with the people in his riding.
At the riding association’s nomination convention held Sunday in Quesnel, 150 Mile House rancher and former CRD director Duncan Barnett emerged the successful candidate.
“I’m very pleased and I’m excited and looking forward to the coming months and the May 14 election,” Duncan Barnett said Monday.
“I’m not ready to start campaigning just yet, but it’s definitely time to start meeting people to make sure that I am 100 per cent up on the issues.”
Around 150 people attended the nomination convention held at the Royal Canadian Legion in Quesnel.
“There were a lot of observers there, the legion was full,” Barnett said.
After Barnett and Quesnel candidate Sushil Thapar had 10 minutes each for an introduction, speech and question and answer period, voting took place.
A total of 78 people casted votes, Barnett said.
NDP leader Adrian Dix also gave a keynote address.
“It was an excellent speech,” Barnett said.
“I was very pleased. I not only liked what he said, but how he said it. It really made me feel confident, getting behind him as leader. I think people in the room were also impressed.”
Barnett noticed some young people in the crowd and described the convention as a positive event with lots of energy and enthusiasm.
Realizing he will have to acquire a cell phone and a Facebook page, Barnett said he will have to become re-connected.
“It won’t be as calm as feeding the cows,” he added.
