Whitby-Oshawa MPP eager to carry on in current role
Jun 27, 2009 - 06:01 PM
By Jeff Hayward
MARKHAM -- Christine Elliott won’t be taking the helm of her political party this round.
Tim Hudak, MPP for Niagara West and Glanbrook, has earned top spot.
The Whitby-Oshawa MPP was knocked out of contention following the second of three ballots in a Leadership Convention in Markham on June 27, but maintained a positive demeanour when asked for reaction after the results came in.
“I know I’m going to be continuing on as long as people in Whitby-Oshawa will have me,” said Ms. Elliott.
She wouldn’t say who she was throwing her support behind at that point.
“Of course you always want to win... (but) I’m sure either (Hudak or Klees) would make a great leader.”
Around 4 p.m., following the second ballot, the big screen in the convention room at the Hilton Suites on Warden Avenue showed 2903.621 electoral votes for Ms. Elliott, compared to 4128.570 votes for Tim Hudak and 3299.809 nods for Frank Klees.
Randy Hillier was also running for the provincial party’s top spot, but he was dropped after the first ballot.
Mr. Hudak won on the third ballot, according to unitedandstrong.ca, a leadership convention information site.
Durham MPP John O’Toole, who supported Ms. Elliott during her bid to lead the party, said his counterpart is “smart and articulate and compassionate.”
He said Ms. Elliott possibly had one factor against her in voting.
“Her lack of time at Queen’s Park is her only weakness,” said Mr. O’Toole.
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