Elections Manitoba has charged a former campaign manager of the Manitoba Conservatives with defaming a candidate and obstruction.

Heather Campbell-Dewar was the campaign manager for the Tory candidate in the Interlake riding in the 1999 provincial election. She is charged with two offences under the Elections Act.

Campbell-Dewar is also the former director of operations for the party caucus in the government of former premier, Gary Filmon.

As the campaign wound down, the New Democrats said the Conservatives were circulating an anonymous fax that said the NDP candidate had a criminal record. The faxes accused Tom Nevakshonoff of dealing drugs and stealing.

Nevakshonoff, 42, did have a record but it was for an impaired driving conviction in the 1970's.

He narrowly won his seat in the Interlake constituency.