Narth wins La Verendrye PC nomination

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This article was published 17/11/2022 (1298 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Third generation farmer, business owner and 12-year veteran of municipal politics in the RM of Stuartburn, Konrad Narth won the nomination to represent the PC party in La Verendrye for the next provincial election.

Narth beat out Jennifer Brandt for the win in the constituency that has been represented by Dennis Smook since 2011. Smook announced his pending retirement earlier this year.

A lifelong resident of the constituency, Narth grew up in Zhoda and boasts board experience on Southern Health, Manitoba Farm Industry Board, Eastman Tourism, and Community Futures Triple R.

Happy with this win, Narth said he was cautiously confident considering the work he put in. “I was able to make contact with the majority, I would say, of the membership,” he said.

Narth said after being involved in politics at the provincial and municipal level for most of his adult life, he knew the time was ripe to run provincially.

“I felt I was ready,” he said.

Winning the nomination may have been the most challenging race that awaits Narth. La Verendrye has been solidly Conservative most of the time since Conservative Maxime Goulet was elected to the brand new constituency in 1879.

NDP MLA Ron Lemieux won three elections in the constituency from 1999 to 2007, but other than that, the last non-Conservative was Leonard Barkman, a Liberal who took office in 1969.

But the blue nature of the constituency is not something that Narth will rely on.

“I’m not wanting to take it for granted primarily because I want to meet and connect with ideally every constituent of La Verendrye,” he said.

While Narth admits the PC Party of Manitoba has had challenges, including the introduction of a new premier and dealing with the aftermath of COVID, he feels they’re on the right course.

“With the direction the government has now outlined in the throne speech and what we’ve been seeing, I’m very optimistic that we’re on the right track,” he said. “We are on the road to recovery from the pandemic and I think that the PC Party of Manitoba right now is the only party that has the ability to lead us to recovery.”

In a Nov. 10 press release, Premier Heather Stefanson expressed her support for Narth.

“Konrad Narth is a fantastic candidate and a strong community leader,” she said. “I would also like to thank both candidates, their families and their supporters who ran for nomination and for believing in our party and our vision.”