HALIFAX – Cumberland-Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley’s newest Member of Parliament is stepping down as president of the Progressive Conservative Party of Nova Scotia.
Scott Armstrong, who was elected Conservative MP in Monday’s federal by-election, said he owes it to his new constituents to focus on representing them full time in the House of Commons. He submitted a letter of resignation to provincial Progressive Conservative leader Karen Casey earlier today.
“This was a difficult decision for me to make as I have thoroughly enjoyed serving as Progressive Conservative president under the leadership of Rodney MacDonald and Karen Casey,” said Mr. Armstrong. “But after consulting with my family, friends and supporters, it’s time for me to turn the page and devote 100 per cent of my time working for the people of Cumberland-Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley as their Member of Parliament.”
According to the provincial party’s constitution, executive vice president Rob Batherson will become the new president and will serve until the party’s annual general meeting February 5-7, 2010.
“Rob did an outstanding job of running the association over the past several months while I was occupied with the by-election campaign,” added Mr. Armstrong. “He is an outstanding leader and will serve us well as president.”
Born in Sydney, Batherson is a Halifax business person who has been active in the party for close to 20 years. He has been a member of the provincial executive since 2005, worked on a number of provincial campaign teams, served as a constituency president and ran as a candidate for the provincial legislature. He also co-chaired the 2006 PC leadership convention
“It’s an honour to have the opportunity to serve the party and its thousands of volunteers in this role,” said Mr. Batherson. “Scott Armstrong is our party’s longest serving president in 20 years, so I know I have big shoes to fill. Working with our leader Karen Casey, our caucus, our constituency associations and our provincial executive, I will do my part to reach out to past, present and potential party members and supporters to modernize, improve and build a Progressive Conservative Party that is relevant and connected to Nova Scotians.”
From her province-wide tour today in Cape Breton, Progressive Conservative leader Karen Casey thanked Scott Armstrong for his term as provincial president.
“Scott Armstrong is one of the best political organizers in this province and as my campaign manager in Colchester North for two elections, I have seen that talent first hand. While his contributions as provincial president will be missed, I know he will do a phenomenal job as Member of Parliament,” said Ms. Casey. “I look forward to continued co-operation and support from our new president Rob Batherson and the team on the provincial executive.”
