Gander -
The shouts proclaiming "the next premier of Newfoundland" had been elected may have been premature, but Progressive Conservative candidate Sandy Collins can indeed call himself an MHA, following his victory Thursday in the Terra Nova district byelection.
Collins defeated Liberal candidate John Baird and NDP candidate Robin Brentnall in a vote tighter than the most recent election in the district.
Collins - former Terra Nova MHA Paul Oram's executive assistant - received 2,398 votes, accounting for 55 per cent of the vote, followed by Baird with 1,663 votes, accounting for 38.2 per cent of the vote. Brentnall was a distant third with 297 votes. Voter turnout was unofficially 52.6 per cent, based on 8,282 eligible voters.
"I think it's fair to say that the people were very happy with the last six years, and they look forward to the next two," Collins said, referring to the next general election in 2011. "I look forward to a lot longer than that."
Early results were close, with Baird briefly leading after polls from Salvage and Burnside/St. Chads, but Collins led the rest of the way. The campaign organizers declared him the winner once results came in from Glovertown, where Collins grabbed 476 votes compared to Baird's 311.
The evening was not entirely lost for the Liberals, who had their best showing in the district since the 2003 general election, when Oram defeated incumbent Liberal Tom Lush by exactly 500 votes - 3,114 to 2,614.
Baird was more than pleased with the progress made in the two years since the last provincial election by his party in the Terra Nova district. "From 17 per cent to around 39 per cent of the total vote - that's a tremendous jump in two years," Baird said from his Glovertown headquarters just minutes after the final total was announced.
"I was a little surprised. I thought I was going to do better and thought I might win. Obviously, I didn't win, but I think we made tremendous strides. We won the Eastport Peninsula, we came up a long way in Glovertown and we came way up in Gambo.
"We more than doubled on what we had, and that was on a surprise election."
In the 2007 general election, Oram took almost 75 per cent of all votes.
While Baird was humble in defeat and congratulated Collins for his victory, the first-time Liberal candidate said he felt he was facing a much larger opponent.
"I don't think I was fighting against Collins in this election. It was (Premier) Danny Williams and Danny Williams' cabinet ministers, who were out here in full force during this whole election," Baird said.
Baird, who is a land-use planner and economic-development consultant, added last night's results in Terra Nova, as well as the Liberal's recent victory in October's byelection in the The Straits-White Bay North district, are signs of a strong future for the Liberal party in rural Newfoundland and Labrador.
"I see the tide changing a lot. He (Premier Williams) got just over 50 per cent here, so I think there is a big difference between the provincial picture and the picture in this district and the picture in rural Newfoundland and Labrador. There's a lot of people unhappy with what's happening in rural Newfoundland and Labrador.
"I think in two years time you're going to see a House of Assembly that's a lot closer in terms of numbers on each side of the House, and I think there will be good opposition whether it's our party that's in opposition or the PC party."
Collins began campaigning the moment Oram announced his resignation from the House of Assembly in early October.
While no stranger to politics after working for the former health minister, Collins was a newcomer to running for political office, and said the experience of winning an election was unique.
"I've been there for five years helping the people in this district, and now they've got my back, so it's a good feeling."
In his new role representing the people of Terra Nova, Collins said he hoped not to disappoint, while fully understanding the difficult job that lies ahead of him.
The demands of political life were a major factor in Oram's decision to leave politics, following the intense scrutiny of his handling of the health portfolio. Now succeeding his old boss, Collins became emotional when discussing what it was like to take over for Oram in Terra Nova.
"I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for him," he said, then pausing for a second. "To keep a straight face, I'll leave it at that."
With the win, the PCs will now have 43 of the 48 seats in the legislature.
The Beacon
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
