Taras Sokolyk
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Taras Sokolyk is a political organizer in Manitoba, Canada. He served as chief of staff to Progressive Conservative premier Gary Filmon in the 1990s, and was later implicated in a vote-splitting scandal relating to the 1995 provincial election.
Sokolyk played a prominent role in the Progressive Conservative Party's 1995 election campaign, which resulted in a majority government for the party.
In 1998, premier Filmon called a commission of inquiry into allegations that local PC organizers Cubby Barrett and Allen Aitken had funded three Independent Native Voice candidates, with the intention of splitting the left-of-centre vote with the New Democratic Party. Sokolyk testified at this inquiry, and was personally implicated when it was discovered he had transferred funds to Aitken during the campaign. The scandal seriously damaged his reputation, and forced him to withdraw from political activity.
In 2002, new Progressive Conservative leader Stuart Murray secretly contracted Sokolyk to work for the party again. The story was soon leaked to the media by a PC insider, and Sokolyk's contract was terminated with a $25,000 payout. Many Progressive Conservatives questioned Murray's judgement in the matter.
