Ches Crosbie confirms PC leadership bid, then drops a bombshell
Admits he was convicted 24 years ago after he refused a breathalyzer demand
Ches Crosbie's announcement Tuesday that he was officially entering the race to become the next leader of the PC Party ended with a thud after he admitted to a conviction from a quarter-century ago.
At the end of a question-and-answer session with reporters, Crosbie paused, swallowed hard and offered up this unprompted comment.
"I just want to disclose that I was convicted of failing to blow the breathalyzer about 25 years ago — [or] twenty-four years ago. So in the interest of full disclosure I'm letting you know that," Crosbie said.
Crosbie admitted he was drinking, and said he received a pardon for the conviction seven or eight years ago.
"It's not something I'm proud of. I learned a lesson out of it, which is not to repeat that, and I haven't," he said, adding he was alone in the vehicle, no one was injured and there was no property damage.
The incident occurred in St. John's, he added.
"There's my ole daddy. Coming out to support his boy, are ya." Crosbie's here in force.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cbcnl?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#cbcnl</a> <a href="https://t.co/McbrVj2Qn8">pic.twitter.com/McbrVj2Qn8</a>
—@TRobertstHe referred to the facts of the incident being "mild" and said he pleaded guilty.
He then said "OK. Thank you very much," and walked away from the podium.
A surreal moment during Crosbie's big night
It was a surreal end to what was supposed to be a positive event for Crosbie, a high-profile personal injury lawyer who came to prominence over his involvement in a series of headline-generating class action lawsuits.
He's also a member of one of the province's most notable families, and is the son of former federal and provincial politician John Crosbie.
Crosbie said he offered up the information because of his commitment to returning honesty to politics, and the fact the application process to seek the party's nomination contained this question: Have you ever been convicted?
He plans to present his application papers to the party on Wednesday, and said they will be publicly available.
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Crosbie held the event at the Quidi Vidi Brewery in St. John's, where roughly 100 people gathered to hear his 10-minute speech that started out with him saying, "Our best days are ahead," with the right leadership, team and plan.
"We can reclaim the future of this province we love," he said.
Crosbie said his platform will focus on three issues: rebuilding the economy, restoring confidence in government and "revitalizing the PC Party."
Crosbie promises to shake things up
He also promised to shake things up by introducing laws to prevent the type of overspending that some say is now crippling the province's fiscal position, and bring in what he calls an "honesty in politics" law.
Crosbie has spent the last eight months visiting most of the province's 40 districts, and is the first person to officially enter the race to become the next leader of the PC Party of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Conception Bay East-Bell Island MHA David Brazil also confirmed Tuesday that he's considering a run at the job, while the current leader, Topsail MHA Paul Davis, clarified his intentions by stating he does not want to stay on as leader.
"Decision has been made for some time. I will not be running (for) leader," Davis said in an email to CBC News.