It would appear local Progressive Conservative candidate Peter McSherry's absence from debates and town halls leading up to the June 2 provincial election is by design.
McSherry, a lawyer by trade, has not attended any of the four debates held thus far and will not take part in the Chamber of Commerce virtual event planned for Wednesday afternoon.
McSherry wasn't at events organized by Bishop Macdonell high school, one held at 10 Carden, a virtual 'social justice issues debate and, most recently, one held Monday at the Italian Canadian Club put on by the local branch of the Ontario Real Estate Association.
"It's more important that we're out meeting people," said McSherry's campaign manager Bob Coole when asked about his candidate's absence from planned events.
"We're knocking on doors, meeting people and telling them what our plans are," Coole said.
For further comment GuelphToday was told to contact the Ontario Progressive Conservative organization, which we did.
Their one-line response to three questions emailed them: "Peter is focused on knocking on doors and speaking with constituents directly about the issues that matter to their community."
McSherry was also the only one of the eight main candidates in the Guelph and Wellington-Halton Hills ridings that did not respond to emailed questions regarding their party's stance on key election issues. Those responses are being published nightly verbatim.
Wellington-Halton Hills longtime incumbent Ted Arnott, also a PC candidate, did attend a virtual all-candidates debate Monday evening.
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