Nels Harrington

Image Credit: B.C. Conservative Party

VERNON - Another candidate has entered the provincial political race in Vernon-Monashee.

The British Columbia Conservative Party has announced Nels Harrington, from the Vernon area, as its official candidate for the 2017 election.

Harrington, 54, was born in B.C., lived on cattle farms in McBride and Alberta, and grew up in a conservative family in B.C.’s Interior where his father was an educator, author and public figure while his mother became head nurse of the extended-care wing of Polson Jubilee Hospital, according to a media release from the Conservative Party.

Harrington and his wife have four children and live in Vernon.

Harrington studied education at David Thompson University but gravitated towards his life-long interest in construction, gaining his Registered Housing Professional certification in 1995 and launching his own business, Harrington’s Renovations, which is based in Coldstream. He is a former board member of the Canadian Homebuilders Association.

“My many years of experience operating a small business have convinced me of the need for local people to step forward and bring good government back to B.C.,” Harrington says, noting the huge importance of small businesses being able to create jobs for working people.

If he wins the election, he has arranged for another contractor to handle his commitments.

“As a small business owner I have had first-hand experience with the myriad challenges facing small business operators,” he says.

He says imbalanced regulatory frameworks that favour large corporations, privatization of public assets that drive up costs and increasing pressures from automation and other shifts in the business climate need to be addressed.

Harrington is a member of Kalamalka Toastmasters, and a former board member of the Vernon Environmental Action Committee.

“Our family values have always centered around the concepts of freedom of thought, responsible action and duty within community and now I feel that the best way I can serve my family, community, constituency and province is by working with people who have similar values and concerns,” he says

B.C. Conservative Party president Corbin Mitchell says the announcement is an important step.

“… It means the B.C. Conservative Party conceivably could gain Official Party Status in the Legislature by winning at least four seats,” Mitchell says, adding more nominations will be announced in coming days and weeks leading up to the May 9 voting day.

“The endorsement of a fine candidate with deep family values, private-sector work experience and lots of community involvement is another sign that the B.C. Conservative Party will be competitive in numerous constituencies around the province,” Mitchell says.

Harrington’s campaign manager is Scott Anderson, a veteran party activist and Vernon city councillor.

You can read more about Harrington here.

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