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Liberals announce new Sudbury riding executive

In a news release Tuesday, Liberal byelection candidate Glenn Thibeault unveiled the names of the new officers and directors, who will be officially unveiled at the riding association's annual general meeting tonight at the Caruso Club.
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Thibeault held a brief press conference on Jan. 15, following his meeting with Transportation Minister Steve Del Duca. Photo by Heidi Ulrichsen.
In a news release Tuesday, Liberal byelection candidate Glenn Thibeault unveiled the names of the new officers and directors, who will be officially unveiled at the riding association's annual general meeting tonight at the Caruso Club.

The executive is a mix of longtime Liberals and some former NDPers. The new president is Brian Band, who formerly was Thibeault's communications director when he was an NDP MP. The executive vice-president is a longtime Liberal, businessman Greg Fontaine; secretary Vicky Lafond is a former member of the NDP when Thibeault was MP; while treasurer Rebecca MacNeil is a longtime Liberal.

“First and foremost I want to take a moment to acknowledge the long and meaningful career of MPP Rick Bartolucci and the members of his riding association who dedicated nearly two decades to the betterment of our community,” Thibeault is quoted as saying in the release. “Their years of service to Sudbury have been both exemplary and invaluable to our success.

“I also want to welcome new members and thank those staying on. The mix of new ideas and seasoned experience will set this riding association up for a fruitful new term.”

Several members of the former executive decided to quit when Liberal Premier Kathleen Wynne decided to appoint Thibeault the party's candidate in the Feb. 5 byelection.

Outgoing president Bill Nurmi, who held the post for 20 years, told NorthernLife.ca in December that many were upset with the way the nomination was handled, not with Thibeault himself.

“It's not the person, it's the process,” Nurmi said. “I have a lot of respect for Glenn Thibeault, but I have no respect for the way they have gone behind the scenes to make the decision, bypassing all of the people in Sudbury who should have made the decision themselves.”

Nurmi said he expected some people would opt to stay, as is the case with MacNeil, who has served with the riding association for the last 10 years.

“I have decided that I would like to remain on the executive in order to offer my previous experience to help guide our party at the local level,” MacNeil says in the release.

Fontaine says he's looking forward to the future and working with Thibeault.

“His track record for delivering on what matters to Sudbury is outstanding,” Fontaine says in the release. “I would also like to extend my sincere thanks to those who served the association faithfully for the last two decades. We are grateful for the solid foundation that you and your fellow members laid for the next generation of Sudbury Liberals.”

In addition to the executive, the associations new directors are:
Meho Halimic; Tay Butt; Pierre Perreault; Gary Duhaime; Mary Duhaime; Yolanda Thibeault; Darrell Marsh; Todd Horn; Bob Dewar; Colette Mallais; Jim Young; Lee Ferguson; Clare Graham; Bill Sutton; Bill McElree; Toni Khoury; Tammy Moore; and, Jeff Shrigley.

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