Random Access

Some quick hits on the federal Tory nomination in Mississauga South:
• Phil Green, who ran the past two times for the party and closed the gap a little on each attempt on incumbent Liberal Paul Szabo, has endorsed international financial consultant Hugh Arrison for the job this time around.
In an e-mail to friends and supporters, Green says Arrison has enjoyed a "tremendous" financial and business career and understands the concerns of the riding, because he lives in it.
"Just as important for me, Hugh knows that there can be a big difference between what is legal and what is the right thing to do," says Green, an obvious reference to candidate Major Ted Optiz's recent ploy to buy up web site domains that his opponents could potentially use and redirect people from those sites to his own.
Opitz thought better of the plan after his opponents cried foul. He gave it some reflection and dropped the idea.
• Long-time Tory and two-time mayoralty candidate Roy Willis will nominate the other "in-house" riding candidate — ratepayer president and long-time Tory stalwart Raya Shadursky.
• Opitz must not only fight the reality that he doesn't live in the riding, but the general perception that he is the party's chosen one.
After the provincial party foisted incumbent Liberal MPP Tim Peterson on the riding, with disastrous results last October, it might be a better idea in Mississauga South to be a son, or daughter, of the riding rather than one of the party.
There's a good chance that Optiz will face an "Anybody But Ted" movement if it comes down to a two-person race.
• By the way, a little birdie tells me that Tim Peterson, who has already expressed interest in running provincially again for the Tories against Charles Sousa in Mississauga South in 2014, has his house for sale.
Question: Can Major Opitz move fast enough to take possession before the June 10 nomination meeting?