HARRISTON – One day after Perth-Wellington MPP Randy Pettapiece announced he will not be seeking re-election in the 2022 provincial election, one candidate has already announced their intentions to seek the Conservative Party nomination in the riding.
Matthew Rae, former public servant, community and education advocate, announced on Nov. 18 he is seeking the PC nomination.
“I’m excited to announce that I will be seeking the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party nomination in my home riding Perth-Wellington,” Rae told supporters via a video announcement on Facebook.
“We need a candidate who will not be out-worked. We need a candidate who will be ready on day one to fight for you and your family. You deserve a representative who understands our values and knows our communities.”
Rae grew up north of Harriston on his family’s dairy farm and currently resides in Mitchell. He is a graduate of the University of Guelph and the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna.
Town of Minto Mayor George Bridge was one of the first municipal leaders to endorse Rae.
“Growing up just outside of Harriston, Matthew knows the issues and concerns that matter most to the Town of Minto and Wellington County,” said Bridge. “I’ve been continually impressed by his leadership, service and commitment to our communities. He would be a strong voice for the northern municipalities of Wellington at Queen’s Park.”
Rae has over a decade of experience in both the public and private sector and serves on various community boards. He currently works for an education non-profit that runs experiential STEM programming for Grade 10 and 11 students.
