Melfort Mayor wins Sask Party nomination

paNOW staff

Kevin Phillips has been chosen to succeed Rod Gantefour as the Sask Party candidate in the Melfort constituency for the next provincial election.

“We’ve chosen a very good candidate … an effective mayor and a local business person – someone who is involved,” said Premier Brad Wall following the nomination meeting in Naicam on Monday.

Phillips beat out Islay Elhert to claim the Sask Party nomination.

“I’m just really, really excited,” Phillips said.

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Phillips said he’ll take his nomination in stride.

“It’s one step at a time, the whole focus was on tonight, getting through tonight,” he said.

Saskatchewan residents will head back to the polls in less than a year.

Phillips said with Brad Wall at the helm, he’s confident about the Sask Party’s re-election chances.

“It’s going to be a tough job to take a seat in rural or urban Saskatchewan away from the Sask Party,” he said.

Phillips praised Wall for his leadership through the recession and the unprecedented rainy season.

“We’ve fought through floods and we’ve fought through a tremendously bad year in agriculture.”

Phillips said he will keep his mayoral duties up until the writ is dropped. At that time he will take an unpaid leave and will step down if elected.

bbosker@panow.com