THUNDER BAY — The Conservative Party of Canada has chosen its candidate to run in the city’s north-side riding.
Former Thunder Bay police chief Bob Herman will run in the next election, which will take place this year. Herman said he was acclaimed as the candidate "after a long process."
Herman told Newswatch on Thursday that he's running because of concerns he has with the economy and the governing Liberals' policies on spending and taxation. He said he's ready to challenge Liberal incumbent Patty Hajdu, who has held the seat since 2015.
"Nobody's irreplaceable and change can be a good thing," he said. "I want to be that person that's going to change things for this area."
According to a biography on the Thunder Bay-Superior North Conservative electoral district association website, Herman was an armed forces reservist in the Lake Superior Scottish Regiment as a teenager before attending, and graduating from, Confederation College with a diploma in aviation administration management.
Herman, however, would join the Thunder Bay Police Service, where he would serve for the next 32 years. He was Chief of Police from 2000 to 2011. During his time with the local service, the association website’s biography said, he became an experienced criminal investigator, especially around major crimes.
During his tenure as police chief, he was also the president of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police, the first chief from Thunder Bay to hold that position.
After his retirement from the Thunder Bay force, he also served as an interim deputy police chief and interim chief with the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service, leaving that organization in 2013.
“I have a pretty good understanding of what the crime and disorder issues are and what's needed to help solve those issues,” he said. “Those are important issues for the people of Thunder Bay and the surrounding communities.”
Herman said he has what it takes to help the region in Parliament.
“I think we have so much potential and I think that if I get elected and I go to Ottawa that I'm going to be the person that's going to help this area reach its full potential."
Herman is slated to run against Thunder Bay lawyer Joy Wakefield for the NDP and incumbent Thunder Bay-Superior North MP Patty Hajdu for the Liberals.
This story has been updated with comments from Bob Herman in a Thursday interview.
