THUNDER BAY – Jay Stapleton has decided not to seek the NDP nomination after all in Thunder Bay-Superior North.
Stapleton, who unsuccessfully ran for city council in 2010 and the provincial NDP nomination in 2011, has instead thrown his support behind his only other competitor, former Nishnawbe Aski Nation deputy grand chief Anna Betty Achneepineskum.
“I will be fully supporting Anna Betty’s campaign and I believe that she is the ideal candidate for our region,” Stapleton wrote Sunday night on his Facebook page.
“Dipping my toes into federal politics has been stressful. Putting myself up there stirred up rumours and vitriol which have no basis in reality, but which I don’t have the energy or resources to deal with. So ends my brief experience as a public person. I will find other ways to work for my community.”
Stapleton did not elaborate what the rumours were or what was being said that led to his decision to walk away.
Liberal incumbent Patty Hajdu is the only other confirmed candidate in the Thunder Bay-Superior North race.
