March 10 2014   ·   0 Comments

By Chad Ingram

Jamie Schmale wants his boss’s job.

Schmale chief of staff for MP Barry Devolin will toss his hat in the proverbial ring for the Conservative candidacy for Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock in the 2015 federal election.
Devolin announced late last year he won’t be running again.
This isn’t the first time Schmale has set his sights on the House of Commons.
“I ran for the nomination back in 2003” he says. “This job has been something I’ve wanted to do for a long time.”
Devolin won the nomination that year.
“We knew each other we didn’t know each other well” Schmale says. “We respected one another.”
Devolin respected Schmale enough to make him his campaign manager and after winning the 2004 election his right-hand employee.
Schmale had been working as news director at Lindsay radio station Y92 formerly CKLY. He spent seven years with the station working his way from reporter to the head of the newsroom.
Having worked for Devolin for nearly a decade seems bound to come in handy.
“I think that’s one of my biggest advantages” Schmale says. “I know the players in the riding. I know the issues. The learning curve will be very small.”
Why the Conservative party?
“It follows my beliefs” Schmale says adding these include keeping taxes low and being tough on crime as well as the importance of personal freedoms and a free market economy.
His platform will focus on the economy and jobs including capitalizing  on the Trent-Severn Waterway which Schmale believes could be a bigger attraction and economic driver in the area.
As for the contentious issue of the Senate the scandal around which has hit both the Conservative government and the Liberal party Schmale supports the Supreme Court review on what might be done with the upper chamber without changing the constitution.
“I think that’s a prudent step” he says. “I think I’m just as upset as any other Canadian. Clearly it wasn’t perfect to begin with. I’m not against getting rid of the Senate.”
A Lindsay resident Schmale was raised in Bobcaygeon and is 37 soon to be 38.
“My youth is to my advantage” Schmale says. “I have the drive I have the dedication. I’d like to put my experience over the past 10 years to work for the people of this riding.”
More information on Schmale can be found at jamieschmale.ca.
The Conservative riding association will choose its candidate later this year.