Fred Hutton has officially been named as the Liberal candidate in the Conception Bay East-Bell Island by-election.

The party made the announcement before a packed room at The Grounds Cafe in Portugal Cove-St. Phillips late this afternoon.

Hutton is a former broadcaster who had a decades long career, working in every major broadcast newsroom in the province, including two stints at VOCM as both news director and morning show co-host.

Hutton stepped away from journalism in 2020 to join Andrew Furey as he campaigned for the leadership of the Liberal Party, and has served as advisor to the premier ever since Furey got elected.

Hutton says while deciding to run was a difficult one, given what he has done with and for the Premier over the last three years, it “should come as no surprise” and was the “easy and obvious choice.”

Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s councillor Tina Neary gets the nod for the PCs, while deaf advocate Kim Churchill will run for the New Democrats.

Meanwhile, speculation has been running rampant that Furey will call a general election before a by-election can be called.

The Premier has now put those rumours to bed saying “there will be a by-election for Conception Bay-East Bell Island.