A local labour leader is the NDP’s choice to represent the party in the next provincial election.

At a nomination meeting Monday night, Sudbury and District Labour Council president Jamie West was chosen as the party’s candidate for the 2018 provincial election.

West was up against local film-maker Beth Mairs and former Sudbury newspaper reporter Carol Mulligan.

Voters had to cast a second ballot, as no candidate won on the first round of votes.  West told he's ready to get to work.

"It feels great,” said West.

“I’m very excited and I'm really happy that we had such a great race and three strong candidates and I'm very excited to start the hard work so we can win the next election."

"I think Jamie will be a fantastic candidate. We had three good people putting their names forward. Carol Mulligan had her support, Beth Mairs came forward with a new group of people who started to look at the NDP, Jamie did a ton of work for a long period of time to talk to the membership to gain their support,” said France Gelinas, Nickel Belt MPP (NDP).

Ontario NDP leader Andrea Horwath attended the nomination meeting and she said West will be an important voice for Sudbury families.  

“Sudbury has a champion in Jamie West. His dedication to Sudbury, and particularly to working people in this community, is deep. You can trust Jamie to fight for local jobs, better health care and seniors care. He’s a fantastic addition to our growing NDP team,” Horwath said.

The NDP is looking to re-gain a riding it held for a few months back in 2014, when Joe Cimino captured the seat the 2014 provincial election.

Cimino resigned a few months later and current Sudbury MPP Glenn Thibeault ended up taking back the riding for the Liberals in a by-election. Prior to Cimino’s win, the most recent NDP provincial win in Sudbury was back in 1990.