Trent Wotherspoon

Trent Wotherspoon MLA is a Canadian politician[1] and former interim leader of the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party (NDP).[2] He was elected to represent the electoral district of Regina Rosemont in the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan in the 2007 election, and was re-elected in the 2011 election, and 2016 election. Wotherspoon was a candidate for the party's leadership in 2013. In 2016, the NDP caucus elected Wotherspoon to serve as Leader of the Opposition following the defeat of Cam Broten in the 2016 provincial election and the party's provincial council elected him interim leader.[3]

Trent Wotherspoon
MLA
Leader of the Opposition in Saskatchewan
In office
April 12, 2016 – June 20, 2017
Preceded byCam Broten
Succeeded byNicole Sarauer
Leader of the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party
Interim
In office
April 23, 2016 – June 20, 2017
Preceded byCam Broten
Succeeded byNicole Sarauer (interim)
Member of the Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly
for Regina Rosemont
Assumed office
November 7, 2007
Preceded byJoanne Crofford
Personal details
Born (1979-09-15) September 15, 1979
Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
Political partySaskatchewan New Democrat
Residence(s)Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
ProfessionTeacher

Early life

Wotherspoon was born in Regina where he lives with his wife Stephanie, a school teacher. Wotherspoon went to university at the University of Regina where he completed a Bachelor of Education degree. While at university, Wotherspoon also took classes in business administration. He also ran a painting company to help cover tuition.[4]

Wotherspoon worked with the Regina Public Schools system where he helped to develop a new adult campus. He also helped implement a new holistic vocational adaptation program for students who displayed severe violent behaviours and lower cognitive abilities, and worked with the Ranch Ehrlo Society to provide addiction and behavioural treatment. Wotherspoon went on to create a youth justice program that helped high risk offenders. Also, he was a member of the Business Improvement District for the City of Regina's Warehouse District.[5]

Political career

Wotherspoon was elected in November 2007 and over the term became the opposition critic for Finance, SaskPower and SaskEnergy, as well as Chair of the Public Accounts committee, and committee member for Crown and Central Agencies and Saskatchewan's Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. Following the 2011 election Wotherspoon continued on as the critic for Finance and SaskPower and became the new critic for Education.

2013 NDP leadership campaign

On September 14, 2012, Wotherspoon announced his candidacy for the leadership of the Saskatchewan NDP.[6][7] He was one of three declared candidates including MLA Cam Broten and doctor Ryan Meili. A fourth candidate, economist Erin Weir, withdrew from the race before the leadership vote.[8] At the leadership convention, Wotherspoon received the fewest votes on the first ballot and withdrew. Broten won on the second ballot by a narrow margin.[9]

Interim leader

Wotherspoon was interim leader of the NDP, and leader of the opposition in the Saskatchewan legislature, from 2016 until June 2017 when he announced his resignation in order to consider seeking the permanent leadership of the party in the March 3, 2018 leadership election.[10] MLA Ryan Meili was elected party leader with 55% of the vote in March 2018.[11] Wotherspoon was re-elected in the 2020 general election.

Electoral record

Overview
Year Type Riding Party Votes for Wotherspoon Result Swing
Total  % P. ±%
2007 Provincial
general		 Regina
Rosemont		 New
Democratic		 4,026 53.45% 1st N/A Won Hold
2011 3,567 54.85% 1st +1.40% Won Hold
2016 3,994 53.95% 1st −0.90% Won Hold
2020 4,102 57.86% 1st +3.91% Won Hold

Provincial constituency elections
2007 Saskatchewan general election: Regina Rosemont
Party Candidate Votes%±%
New DemocraticTrent Wotherspoon4,02653.45-8.61
SaskatchewanTony Fiacco2,62434.83+13.14
LiberalJeff Raymond6678.85-5.69
GreenVictoria Nelson2162.87+1.76
Total 7,533100.00
New Democratic hold Swing –
2011 Saskatchewan general election: Regina Rosemont
Party Candidate Votes%±%
New DemocraticTrent Wotherspoon3,56754.85+1.4
SaskatchewanTony Fiacco2,74542.21+7.38
GreenAllan Kirk1912.94-0.94
Total 6,503100.00
New Democratic hold Swing –
2016 Saskatchewan general election: Regina Rosemont
Party Candidate Votes%±%
New DemocraticTrent Wotherspoon3,99453.95-0.90
SaskatchewanKevin Dureau3,10141.88-0.33
LiberalReid A. L. Hill1622.18-
GreenSara Piotrofsky1461.97-0.04
Total valid votes 7,403100.0  
Eligible voters –
New Democratic hold Swing –
Source: Elections Saskatchewan[12][13]
2020 Saskatchewan general election: Regina Rosemont
Party Candidate Votes%±%
New DemocraticTrent Wotherspoon4,10257.86+3.91
SaskatchewanAlex Nau2,52235.58-6.30
Progressive ConservativeChristopher McCulloch2954.16-
GreenJames Park1702.40+0.43
Total valid votes 7,08998.90
Total rejected ballots 791.10–
Turnout 7,16853.55–
Eligible voters 13,385
New Democratic hold Swing –
Source: Elections Saskatchewan

References
  1. "A look at Trent Wotherspoon, running for leader of the Saskatchewan NDP". HuffPost Canada. 2013-03-08. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
  2. "Trent Wotherspoon becomes interim leader of Saskatchewan NDP | CBC News".
  3. "NDP's Trent Wotherspoon elected leader of the Opposition in legislature". Regina Leader Post. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
  4. |http://www.trent4leader.ca/about |Trent4Leader | access-date = 2012-11-29
  5. |"Trent Wotherspoon « Saskatchewan NDP". Archived from the original on 2012-10-01. Retrieved 2012-10-11. |Saskatchewan NDP | access-date = 2012-11-29
  6. Couture, Joe (September 15, 2012). "Wotherspoon, Meili declare candidacy". Regina Leader-Post. Postmedia Network. Retrieved 2012-10-11.
  7. Book, Patrick (September 15, 2012). "Trent Wotherspoon running for NDP leadership". News Talk 980 CJME. Rawlco Communications. Archived from the original on 2012-11-01. Retrieved 2012-10-11.
  8. "Erin Weir drops out of Saskatchewan NDP race". CBC News. 2013-02-20. Retrieved 2018-05-31.
  9. "Broten narrowly defeats Meili to become leader of Saskatchewan NDP". CBC News. 2013-03-09. Retrieved 2018-05-31.
  10. "Trent Wotherspoon resigning as NDP interim leader, considering run for permanent party leadership | CBC News".
  11. CBC (2018-03-03). "'Winds of change:' Ryan Meili wins Sask. NDP leadership". CBC News. Retrieved 2020-11-18.
  12. "Register of Official Candidates by Constituency - March 19 - FINAL" (PDF). Elections Saskatchewan. 19 March 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 April 2016. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
  13. "2016 General Election Results". Elections Saskatchewan. 4 April 2016. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
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