St. Marys lawyer seeks Liberal nomination
Stephen McCotter, a St. Marys municipal councillor and area lawyer, will be running to become the federal Liberal candidate for Perth-Wellington.
McCotter announced recently he has been confirmed by the Liberal Party of Canada as a “green lit” candidate who can seek the nomination.
In August, McCotter announced he would not be running for mayor of St. Marys or for re-election to town council. McCotter has lived and worked in St. Marys all his life and considers Perth-Wellington “a place of community and opportunity.”
He said his decision to enter federal politics is driven by a number of decisions made in Ottawa over the past ten years, which in McCotter’s view, have had a negative impact on the towns and communities in Perth-Wellington.
In particular, he cites federal decisions that have resulted in the phasing out of home mail delivery, uncertainty and increased foreign competition for local farmers, the disappearance of a vast number of well-paying jobs, cuts to local VIA Rail service, and declining financial support for arts, culture and tourism.
McCotter, 42, is a life-long resident of St. Marys and graduate of the University of Western Ontario (finance and economics). After graduation, McCotter returned to St. Marys and spent 15 years running Westover Inn. In 2005, McCotter again attended the University of Western Ontario and earned a law degree with a concentration in tax law.
