Police officer Abdul Abdi has been nominated as the Conservative candidate in the federal riding of Ottawa West-Nepean. Abdi replaces former MP John Baird, who resigned his seat in March after 10 years representing the riding.
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
An Ottawa police officer is replacing former MP and Foreign Affairs minister John Baird as the Conservative candidate in the federal riding of Ottawa West-Nepean.
On Monday evening, members of the Ottawa West-Nepean Conservative Association cast their votes on who would replace Baird in the 2015 federal election.
Police officer Abdul Abdi took the nomination, defeating the only other candidate, businessman Scott Singer.
Voters got a chance to hear from both Singer and Abdi before casting their votes.
Baird had thrown his support behind Abdi, an eleven-year police officer who worked mostly in the riding. Abdi is a long-time volunteer with the Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa as well as with the United Way.
The party would not indicate how many people were present at the nomination meeting at Centrepointe Theatre, but people present said it appeared around 500 were there.
Baird resigned his MP seat in March after 20 years in politics, and ten years as MP in Ottawa West-Nepean.
Abdi says he is grateful for the chance to represent the riding and will begin campaigning immediately. He says his top priorities are locking up violent criminals, defeating terrorists, tax relief for families, and protecting seniors.
The federal election is on October 19.