Loralea Carruthers, provincial Liberal candidate for York-Simcoe, had two reasons to celebrate on May 2: she opened her new campaign office in Bradford, and it was her birthday.
But looking ahead to the June 7 election, Carruthers is not only undeterred by the competition — she is upbeat.
“What I am hearing at the door is that people want an experienced local leader, and I have that,” Carruthers said at the office opening at 444 Holland St. W.
She ran in the 2014 provincial election, closely challenging incumbent Progressive Conservative MPP Julia Munro, and she has served four terms as an elected trustee for the York Region District School Board, as well as chaired the board and helped manage its $1.5-billion budget.
She has also served as vice-president of the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association, member of the East Gwillimbury Public Library Board, and member of the East Gwillimbury Environmental Advisory Committee.
“What’s more, I live in this community,” said Carruthers, who lives in Holland Landing. “I sit on the GO (Train), I use the roads, I understand the need for the Bradford (Highway 400-404) link. And I’m not afraid to fight. I do feel positive. We’re getting tremendous response at the door.”
She was surrounded by her campaign team and supporters Wednesday night, including parents Dave and Christine Jefferson, both former school teachers.
Carruthers was congratulated on opening the campaign office in Bradford by Mayor Rob Keffer, Deputy Mayor James Leduc and Ward 1 Coun. Raj Sandhu.
Carruthers affirmed her support for the Liberal platform, which promises new infrastructure, free prescriptions for seniors, and free child care – all programs, she said, that extend what already exists in the province.
And never has the division between Progressive Conservative and Liberal parties been so clear, she said.
“(There is) such a stark contrast between cuts and care. We need to make sure the Liberals are re-elected to make sure the programs continue,” she said. “We need to knock on every door. We need to find every Liberal, and remind them to vote.”
Leduc said town council is standing with all candidates who open an office in the municipality and will be scrutinizing their stands on issues important to the community.
“We will be at the candidates all the time talking with them. I certainly will be challenging them all,” he said.
PC MPP candidate Caroline Mulroney opened a campaign office on Artesian Industrial Parkway in Bradford April 28.
