Scott Duvall to chase federal NDP nomination for Hamilton Mountain

Just a few months after being re-elected to Hamilton city council, Ward 7 councillor Scott Duvall has announced he will seek nomination for the federal NDP seat in Hamilton Mountain.

Duvall made the announcement at 3 p.m. Monday.

I was listening to the people and these are my voters also.- Scott Duvall

Longtime NDP MP Chris Charlton announced in December she will not be running in the 2015 federal election, leaving her seat up for grabs.

Duvall said he was encouraged to run by several people in the community since Charlton made her announcement.

He will not be leaving his seat at city hall at this time and said it’s way too early to know what will happen yet. The former steelworker and union president is currently serving his third term as city councillor and was first elected in 2006.

Duvall said there was a lot of consideration and concern given to making his decision, since he was just elected as a city councillor, but that he’s received positive feedback from the public.

“I was listening to the people and these are my voters also,” he said.

Duvall believes it’s very important that the NDP has a strong candidate in the next election.

“There’s big shoes to fill and she (Charlton) has done an excellent job.”

Since making the announcement today, many constituents have already reached out to Duvall and offered to help if he wins the nomination. 

Two candidates are seeking the Liberal Party nomination for Hamilton Mountain while the federal Conservative party is expected to hold a nomination meeting in late January.