SCOOP: PCs accused of "fishy" politics in Thornhill

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Something’s “fishy” in Thornhill. A wannabe candidate is accusing the PCs of “dirty politics” in their long-held riding after he says he wasn’t given a fair shot at the nomination contest.

Context: The PCs picked LAURA SMITH to carry their banner in Thornhill earlier this month — something that raised local eyebrows as Smith is also the local riding association’s president, and therefore in a conflict of interest, since it’s the president’s job to lead the candidate search process. Smith recused herself at some point, per the party’s rulebook. Catch up on the background drama here.

But would-be nomination contestant STYLES WEINBERG — a former municipal candidate for Vaughan who owns his namesake marketing firm — says the process was unfair and undemocratic.

Weinberg threw his hat in the ring last year in the hopes of replacing outgoing MPP GILA MARTOW, who was told she couldn’t run again for the PCs after she entered the federal political arena and (unsuccessfully) wen…