Marc Serre chosen as Nickel Belt Liberal candidate

Marc Serre has been selected as the federal Liberal candidate for Nickel Belt, ending what's been a hotly contested race.

The Sudbury byelection for the Liberal seat was intense.

Jim Belanger said a Justin Trudeau ad motivated him to enter politics for the first time.

"When I heard him say, ‘I'm asking you for your time, your smarts, your hope and your hard work,’ I felt as though he was speaking directly to me."

Serre agreed and said the hot race for the Liberal nomination is partially thanks to Trudeau’s new energy — and the  perceived lack of it from Nickel Belt incumbent NDP MP Claude Gravelle.

"Mr. Gravelle is vulnerable. He's seen as possibly tired, seen as not as engaged."

Gravelle, who's held the seat since taking it from the Liberals seven years ago, disagrees.

"I guess they want it bad,” he said.

“I don't really care who wins. I'm going to put my record to the people of Nickel Belt come October and that's what I'm going to run on."

With the Liberal spot on the Nickel Belt Ballot filled,  the Conservatives still need a candidate. They have lots of time to find one before the Federal election day in October.

Lawyer Gerry Guimond said hundreds of memberships have been sold during the nomination race, which he said is not the most democratic process.

"It's like someone running for carnival queen of the playground, where the more you sell, the better your chances are of winning,” he said.

“If you would be the best candidate, when the election comes around, none of that matters."