Shane Getson has won the UCP nomination for the Lac Ste. Anne-Parkland riding.
Getson, who is a civil engineering technologist by trade, beat out Leah Wood in the redo nomination for the riding on Dec. 17.
The new nominee has been a resident of Parkland County for over 10 years and owns a major projects consulting company. Getson was raised on a mixed farming operation west of Chip Lake with cattle, custom pasturing and logging.
“My wife and I chose to live in the Parkland area for all the opportunities it has, and to be able to raise our family here in a safe, clean and prosperous environment, so that they too can achieve their dreams,” Getson said in a statement, adding he is now ready to give back to the community.
Party leader Jason Kenney released a statement congratulating Getson on winning an “incredibly competitive race.
“Shane has extensive experience in business and owns a major projects consulting company. A civil engineering technologist by trade, Shane also has an extensive background in agriculture having grown up on a mixed farming operation run by his family. He and his wife have four children and Shane has a deep understanding of the issues most important to the people of Lac Ste. Anne-Parkland,” Kenney said.
Getson is the second UCP nominee to be selected in the riding after former nominee Dale Johnson was disqualified earlier this year.
Johnson was chosen at the end of August by the riding but was disqualified as a candidate in October after the party discovered he had paid $5,584.60 to an employee whom he had fired after a domestic dispute took place between the two.
At the time, Johnson said he was disappointed the party revoked his status as the UCP candidate.
“However, the UCP has the right to make that decision and I won’t be challenging it,” Johnson said in October.
UCP executive director Janice Harrington confirmed Johnson was disqualified via email, and said he was previously made aware that his candidacy was under review pending an investigation.
“Mr. Johnson failed to disclose a concerning legal matter as required. The party takes this matter extremely seriously,” Harrington wrote in October.
The disqualification was the second in this UCP race in the riding. On Aug. 9, Jerry Molnar was disqualified from the race for controversial posts on his personal Facebook page.
Examples of questionable social media behaviour by Molnar were included in an email from Harrington following his disqualification, including him repeatedly calling former Ontario premier Kathleen Wynne a “tranny.”
After Molnar’s disqualification, Johnson beat out Everett Normandeau, Leah Wood and Barb Costache for the nomination.
During the second nomination, Getson beat out Wood, with the other candidates opting not to run again.
