Ex-MLA Shannon Martin among PC hopefuls for Tuxedo seat vacated by Heather Stefanson

A former Manitoba MLA is among the candidates lining up to represent the Progressive Conservatives in a Winnipeg seat that's never been held by any other party.

Shannon Martin, who served as a provincial legislator from 2014 to 2023, has confirmed he's seeking the PC nomination for the upcoming byelection in the Tuxedo constituency. The seat was vacated by former premier Heather Stefanson on Monday.

Martin said he began knocking on doors in Tuxedo on Monday.

If he's selected by Tory members, Martin will be representing his third constituency in the legislature, after previously serving as MLA for the now dissolved riding of Morris, where he resides, and later the McPhillips seat in Winnipeg. He opted not to run in last October's provincial election.

"It's funny, you think as a politician that sometimes doors close and chapters end, and at the time I was perfectly fine with that. But when Heather Stefanson announced her intention to resign, my phone just lit up," Martin said.

"I had residents of Tuxedo and just people I know ask me to take a serious look at this saying, 'You know what, Shannon, we need your brand of energy, we need your brand of politics here at the legislature and we're asking you to step up and step forward and be our representative for the Tories in the upcoming byelection.'"

Pinsky, Shenkarow express interest

Martin has spent the last few months working with the Progressive Conservative caucus on a short-term contract.

He briefly sought the Tory leadership in 2021, but didn't sign up enough members to enter the race. 

Family lawyer Lawrence Pinsky and real estate agent Lori Shenkarow, both longtime Tuxedo residents, have also been soliciting support from party members for the nomination.

Shenkarow wasn't available for an interview Tuesday, but described herself in a letter to potential supporters as someone who isn't a traditional politician, but would lean on her experience as a mother, caregiver and community volunteer.

Her father, Marvin, was one of the eight businessmen who owned the first incarnation of the Winnipeg Jets when they entered the NHL.

Pinsky wrote a letter to community members seeking support and said he has "agreed to step forward at the appropriate time." When contacted by CBC News, Pinsky said it's a bit premature to talk right now, and that he'll be happy to speak when the time is right. 

Another former MLA, Kevin Klein, didn't respond to a request for comment, but is considering a bid for party leadership and thus may choose to re-enter the legislature through the first available byelection.

East St. Paul Mayor Carla Devlin, who may also run to be the next PC leader, said Tuesday she'd rather enter the legislature in a rural byelection.

"I do believe that renewal doesn't look like a candidate parachuting into a community," Devlin said.

"I think that community members need to step up and advocate for their community, an area they know well and their neighbours and friends, and they can obviously represent that community better than a candidate that is parachuted in.'" 

Devlin said she would actively seek a seat "closer to home when the time is right," and is hopeful there will be an opening in rural Manitoba in the near future or after the party's leadership race next year.

Leadership hopeful waits for rural opening

Devlin said she doesn't have any promises or commitments a seat will become available, but she remains confident.

"I think that [there will] be potentially a seat in a rural setting, which would suit myself better than a city seat," she said. 

The Tuxedo seat has historically been a stronghold of the Progressive Conservatives, but in last year's provincial election the NDP came within 300 votes of taking it. Premier Wab Kinew noted the closeness of that race on Tuesday.

"I definitely wish I would have gone canvassing in Tuxedo," he said, at an unrelated news conference.

Kinew is not saying when he will call a byelection, but under provincial law it must be held within six months of the seat becoming vacant.

"We definitely are going to call the election sometime within the six-month period, and make sure [Tuxedo residents] do get an active representative within the next half a year," the premier said.

A spokesperson for New Democratic Party headquarters was unable to say how many people have so far expressed an interest in running for the party.