PC candidate says he'll be next MPP
[attach]4550[/attach]Who is Chris Menary?
It’s something he hears at the doors, on the sidewalks and at community events.
He says he likes the buzz.
Aside from founding Canada’s largest private professional training centre for private investigators and security guards, he’s also the Progressive Conservative candidate in this fall’s provincial election for the Beaches-East York riding.
With the seat currently held by longtime NDP MPP Michael Prue, Menary knows he’s got a big hill to climb. But make no mistake — he says he’s in it to win it.
“I’m very confident to say I will win this riding,” he said, promising he would be governing in a majority Tim Hudak government come Oct. 6.
“We’ve got a bit of a machine going in Beaches-East York and I’m proud of it.”
Born and raised in East York, Menary continues to live there with his wife and four children. While he has been involved in politics from a young age — he says he volunteered at age 12 on Alan Redway’s campaign — he finally decided to run this year because he was fed up.
“If I couldn’t do this 100 percent … I never would have done it,” he said, adding the Beaches-East York riding is a big seat the PC Party is looking at. “It’s time for a change.”
Being involved in various political campaigns, Menary now has the support of many other recognizable conservatives, who are now helping his campaign, including his co-chairs former councillor Case Ootes and former East York mayor David Johnson. He also has the support of former councillor and trustee Paul Christie and Toronto Catholic District School Board trustee Angela Kennedy.
On one sunny day in July, he even had Rocco Rossi with him in Topham Park to help with the door-to-door canvassing — which Menary says is the key to winning.
“I’m never going to be in the campaign office,” he said. “You might not know who I am today, but you’ll know once I knock on your door.”
And that’s what he’s doing — even without politics, saying it’s important to approach people and just be personable.
He gave one example of how he helped a man move logs off of his yard even after the man had already told Menary that he doesn’t vote.
It’s that sort of action that represents the job of an MPP, he says, calling the position a conduit to the people. Being such, he believes a vital role in that is listening and acting on what people tell him the community needs.
“That’s what people want, is just to be heard,” said Menary, who also founded the East York Basketball Association. “If you can take time out and make them a priority, that’s our job.
“That’s why we get paid for as MPPs at Queen’s Park.”
Menary firmly believes he will be a part of a Progressive Conservative majority government starting this fall. But he also said that regardless of who people to choose to vote for, if he wins it will be his job to represent them all fairly.
With that, he has one message left for constituents.
“Who is Chris Menary?” he said. “I’m Chris Menary. And I’m your representative MPP for Beaches-East York.”
