A former councillor, a political organizer and the old MP's assistant are running for the Avalon riding
The Avalon riding will send a new face to Ottawa this election
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The Avalon riding stretches from Bay Roberts to Trepassey, and three candidates are on the ballot come Monday.
On April 28, voters will elect a new representative, taking over for longtime Liberal MP Ken McDonald.
Here are the candidates for Avalon:
Paul Connors, Liberal Party
Paul Connors was McDonald's right hand man – his executive assistant, a job he took after working as the executive director for the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Agriculture.
"I've always wanted to take leadership roles in our town," he said of his current home, Conception Bay South, where he was a town councillor for two terms.
He's hearing a lot of uncertainty about Canada's economic future at the doors.
"People are concerned with … [U.S. President] Donald Trump and how tariffs are going to impact their lives," he said. "And most people are looking for a strong voice [to lead]."
Connors argues Liberal Leader Mark Carney is the one for that job, with his experience negotiating and rebuilding economies.
"This is the right time," he said, suggesting Carney is the best choice to deal with threats from the U.S. "We have a new leader, a new vision for the country."
He says the strength of the riding also lies in McDonald's staff and their experience in the region.
"If someone called his office, we would … try to help people out with everything that we possibly could," he said.
"[We] may not get all the answers that people like, but we definitely got them answers, and we worked hard for the residents … of the Avalon riding."
Steve Kent, Conservative Party
Steve Kent, running for the Conservatives, is a former PC MHA and municipal administrator with the City of Mount Pearl.
His nomination for the candidacy prompted anger among two other contenders last month, who had already been campaigning for the job but were sidelined by the party's decision to appoint Kent instead.
Despite repeated requests for an interview, Kent refused to speak to CBC reporters, making him the fourth of seven Conservative candidates to decline an interview ahead of the election.
Judy Vanta, New Democratic Party
Judy Vanta also refused an interview with CBC, despite repeated requests.
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