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Paul Thompson Says His Opponent & Fellow Senator Represents Special Interests
posted (May 22, 2018)
Last week the news was all about Senator Valerie Woods - who surprised political observers when she decided to contest the convention for the Albert Division. That has caused some internal disquiet in the PUP - since Paul Thompson - an ally of the Cordel Hyde power base in the city - now has to face an unexpected and unwelcomed challenge. Un-welcomed because these things do cost money - and there's no abundance of that in the Hyde base. But, when we met Thompson campaigning today, he told his challenger and fellow PUP Senator to bring it on:…

Hon. Paul Thompson - PUP Caretaker, Albert
"I have been in the Albert Division now for 23 years working politically and was born and raised in Albert as well but politically I have been here for 23 years and I have never seen Miss Valerie Smith on the ground working politically. In fact, in this last municipal city council elections the party was asking her to be a mayoral candidate, which she refused and I believe she didn't think we were going to win but she never help or assisted in any way in the Albert Division, so this is a surprise and we welcome any challenge. When challenges come it makes you better. You get tested."

Reporter
"Is it a case of people taking you lightly in so far as people saying well 'you could just go and take that from Paul. Who is Paul?'"

Hon. Paul Thompson - PUP Caretaker, Albert
"Well you see you are right. I am mild mannered and soft spoken and maybe it is that she is someone who talks a lot and postures a lot, but in leadership talking doesn't solve problems, doing solve problems and that is what I am about. I have a record of working in the Albert division. When the PUP won in 1998 to 2008 I was a major part of transforming this division you can see all these houses right here in the Yabra area I was a major part of making this happen. Government is about making decisions for people, if the people of Albert put me there to represent them I will represent the people. I am owned by the people, I'm not owned by special interests. This happens all the time, like the saying goes, 'some people don't want to plant the corn, but they want to raid the barn' - that's how it goes. People who would want to see me buy the ingredients, cook the food and then they want to put their feet under the table and eat. But that's not the way it is. I believe in work. I am going to work for the people and I welcome this challenge because it's going to get me bottle tested, so bring it on."

Tomorrow we'll have part two of that interview.

The convention will be held in less than a month on June 19th.

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