Newfoundland Premier-Designate accused of insufficient quirkiness - The Beaverton

Newfoundland Premier-Designate accused of insufficient quirkiness

ST. JOHN’S –  The winner of Saturday’s Progressive Conservative Leadership race, , stands accused of being insufficiently unusual to lead Newfoundland and Labrador.

Opposition politicians were quick to denounce Davis as “without the eccentricity needed to represent Newfoundlanders.”

Newfoundland’s premiers have a long history of colourful behaviour, including Brian Peckford’s obsession with cucumbers, Danny Williams’ removal of Canadian flags, and Joey Smallwood’s relationship with con artist John Doyle. Brian Tobin often defended his 1995 attempt to go to war with Spain.

By contrast, Davis, a member of the legislature and former police officer, is described by observers as “frustratingly normal.”

Tories defended the outcome, arguing that the selection process itself represented sufficient levels of weirdness. The field of leadership contenders initially looked promising, featuring a town councillor accused of racially insensitive Twitter messages and a Corner Brook seafood processor who claimed the race itself was fixed. However, both candidates were forced to drop out. In June, after the above two candidates left the race, the final remaining candidate dropped out, briefly leaving no-one as the next premier.

At the convention itself, the second ballot resulted in 340 votes for Davis and 339 for rival John Ottenheimer, and a single spoiled ballot, prompting a lengthy debate on the convention floor about fractions.

At press time one observer stated “there was an obvious, incredibly eccentric candidate who all Newfoundlanders could relate to. Alas, he’s still Mayor of Toronto.'”