N.S. Tories name Yarmouth byelection pick

Nova Scotia's Progressive Conservative Party has chosen ex-mayor Charles Crosby to run in a provincial byelection in Yarmouth.

Crosby won the candidacy at a nomination meeting attended by more than 100 peopleSaturday.

The former mayor of Yarmouth and past president of the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities beat out educator and former municipal councillor Greg Foster.

The byelectionJune 22 is being held to replace Richard Hurlburt, who resigned in the wake of the legislature expense account scandal.

Hurlburt quit as MLA for Yarmouth on Feb. 9 after it became known that he spent $8,000 of taxpayers' money on a generator installed in his house.

Crosby said Saturday that if elected, his priority will be to get the area's economy moving again, in part through re-establishing ferry service out of Yarmouth.

"Working with our MP Greg Kerr and our neighbouring MLA Chris d'Entremont, I want to put my experience to work to get good things done for Yarmouth again, starting with our vital transportation links," said Crosby.

"It would be an honour to again serve the good people of Yarmouth at a time when we are perhaps facing our biggest challenges."

A provincial byelection will also be held June 22 in the Glace Bay riding vacated by Liberal Dave Wilson.

Wilson resignedon March 11. He didn't give a reason, but stepped down after refusing to meet with the auditor general about expense claims.