What was thought to be a tight race in Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes between the Liberal and PC candidates, turned out to be a landslide win for Progressive Conservative on Thursday.
PC MPP Steve Clark won almost 30,000 votes in his riding, almost tripling the number of votes of his closest competitor, NDP candidate Michelle Taylor.
The incumbent says the results seem to show that voters wanted change for the province.
“In many ridings as well they turned to NDP candidates and that’s why we’re seeing such support tonight for our party and now for the new opposition party.”
Clark was first elected for the now defunct Leeds-Grenville riding in a 2010 by-election, where he won 66 per cent of the vote. He was re-elected in 2011 and 2014, winning over 60 per cent and 50 per cent in each respective year.
Clark tells CKWS now that he’s been voted back in for another mandate, he’s ready to get back to work.
“I’m very cognizant that jobs and the economy are very important. We’ve got a big plan for Ontarians that is going to put more money in their pockets. We’re going to be open for business.”
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There was talk that Brockville Mayor and Liberal candidate David Henderson might have given Clark a bit of competition in the area.
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Henderson says it was a tough fight, but it was clear Ontarians wanted change.
“We thought the numbers were much closer on this side, but clearly they weren’t,” Henderson said.
“His win is pretty convincing that this riding is a strong conservative riding. I have to say that they’re going with the local guy, and Steve made the campaign about him being the local guy.”
After Kathleen Wynne announced that she was stepping down from her leadership of the Ontario Liberal Party, Henderson promised that if he won in Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, he would run for the Liberal leadership.
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But on election night, Henderson ended up in third place, pulling in just over 6,500 votes.
Henderson will now get back to work for the City of Brockville as their Mayor. When asked if he was seeking re-election in the next bid for Mayor, Henderson could not confirm if he would throw his hat in the race again.
This isn’t the first time Henderson has tried to enter provincial politics. Back in 2010, he lost the Progressive Conservative nomination to current MPP Steve Clark.
Just over 2,300 people votes for Green Party candidate Derek Morley.
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