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Paul Lefebvre wins Sudbury Liberal nomination (4 photos)

Local lawyer and businessman Paul Lefebvre will carry the Liberal banner in Sudbury in the next federal election. He defeated Marianne Matichuk, the city's former mayor, to take the nomination March 28.
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Paul Lefebvre gives his victory speech after winning the Sudbury federal Liberal nomination March 28. Photo by Heidi Ulrichsen.
Local lawyer and businessman Paul Lefebvre will carry the Liberal banner in Sudbury in the next federal election. He defeated Marianne Matichuk, the city's former mayor, to take the nomination March 28.

Sudbury Federal Liberal Riding Association president Gary Duhaime told those gathered at the Radisson Hotel late Saturday afternoon that 682 votes were cast during the nomination meeting.

He did not provide a breakdown of the results, but announced Lefebvre had won the nomination.

“Thanks to all of you for placing your trust in me,” said Lefebvre, during his victory speech. “A lot of people have worked very hard to get to this point. But my friends, it's just the beginning.”

He said he'll work with other party members to reconnect with the grassroots, take back the riding for the Liberals and “make sure the Liberals form the next government of Canada.”

Lefebvre, the owner of local French-language media outlets Le Loup 98.9 and Le Voyageur newspaper, said he campaigned for more than a year, and sold 900 Liberal memberships.

Together, the two nomination candidates sold more than 1,400 party memberships. Lefebvre said he's glad Matichuk, who announced she wanted to seek the nomination in January, entered the race.

“I wanted to have a great race and an honest race, and we did,” Lefebvre said. “She's also engaged people. I can't tell you how happy we both are at having over 1,400 cards sold with two members.

“We're ecstatic with the turnout and engagement. You should just see the energy here in the room. It bodes well for us in 2015.”

Speaking to reporters after the nomination results were announced, Matichuk was gracious in defeat.

“I mean, we came in late,” she said. “So you know what? My team did an amazing job, and I'm very proud of them.”

Matichuk said she plans to help Lefevbre in his upcoming bid to become the city's next MP. She said she's proud of bringing in so many new party members.

The former mayor said she'll continue to focus on her health and safety consulting business, but didn't rule out another stab at politics. “You never know, at the end of the day, I'm never going to say never,” she said.

Duhaime said the strong interest in the nomination race bodes well for the upcoming election. “It's excellent,” he said. “It just shows there's still a lot of interest in Sudbury for Liberalism. So we'll see what happens.”

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Heidi Ulrichsen

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