Posted by Owen Sound Sun Times on 6/29/2004, 2:49 pm, in reply to "Tories win a nail biter in Simcoe Grey" Scott Dunn Conservative Larry Millers slogan was right voters decided it was time for change locally. By about 10:20 p.m. CBCs election desk had declared Miller the winner and a couple minutes later it projected a Liberal minority government. With just 45 of 228 polls reported in by then, the 47-year-old beef farmer remained unconvinced, remarking to a reporter, Its not that I dont trust the CBC. I guess Ive been a farmer too long . . . Until Ive got the cheque in my hand Im really not going to believe it. People chatted in his downtown Owen Sound headquarters about how Miller could have been declared the victor so soon, but as the votes poured in, Millers smile broadened. He maintained his percentage of the vote throughout the night at about 45 per cent. By about 11 p.m. with beads of sweat on his brow in the hot room, Miller faced the media safe in the knowledge hed won. He thanked his supporters and remarked Im happy for them. I know theyre elated. And, I dont know, maybe it will hit me tomorrow. With 226 of 228 polls reporting, Miller had 22,021 votes, while Liberal incumbent MP Ovid Jackson had 17,480. The NDPs Sebastian Ostertag had 6,394, Alex Drossos of the Green Party 2,047 and Christian Heritages Steven Taylor 972. The two remaining polls are special national polls and the results were not available. The results are unofficial until Wednesday. Miller said more help for beef farmers was a priority, regardless of which party forms the government. People cant afford to wait any longer. Theyre going to lose their livelihoods. He conceded the Liberals would likely form a minority government and he was disappointed about that. I am surprised at the Liberal amount. I thought we might have had a chance to form a minority government. Continued from Page 1 Asked if the Conservatives disappointing showing in Ontario might have been a backlash against the old Reform Party, Miller responded I didnt know the Reform Party was running any candidates. Later he praised the success of the newly minted Conservative Party, which has roots in Reform, its successor the Canadian Alliance, and the Progressive Conservative parties. Miller said the local voters message probably reflects peoples belief the Liberals lack credibility and integrity. I dont know how many people said to me Ive never voted anything but Liberal in my life. But I can guarantee you of one thing, I dont know who Im voting for but I am not voting Liberal, said Miller, who said people blamed the sponsorship scandal and Ontario Premier Dalton McGuintys budget. Im surprised that that didnt show a little more the same way right across the province and the country. There were other issues at play locally too. Miller said farmers felt abandoned and people were ready to replace Jackson. Miller wouldnt comment on Jacksons campaign but he reluctantly acknowledged there were some complaints about him at the door. I think the real comments on that came at the polls today. I think lets leave it at that. Weve got to congratulate Ovid on 11 years of being an MP and probably 20-some years as a municipal politician. I think the people of Owen Sound and Grey-Bruce-Owen Sound federally owe him a big thanks for that. Miller said he expected Georgian Bluffs Deputy-Mayor Carl Spencer would move up to the mayors chair now that Miller is going to Ottawa. Millers campaign team started filling sign-up sheets for lawn signs back in March, at the partys nomination meeting and then at the local vote in the national Conservative leadership election. When the election was finally called, out came the signs. Is that good planning? asked campaign manager Ken Watson, wearing a big smile several hours before the polls closed. Watson considered it a positive sign that neighbours of people with Miller signs called requesting one too. He did no polling and knew of no national poll to gauge how Miller was doing in the eyes of the electorate before the vote. Not all the returns were in when Miller and his supporters left headquarters and headed up to a local restaurant for a private party. But it appeared Miller, who was losing to Jackson in Owen Sound, had none-the-less seen gains in populated areas like Hepworth, Shallow Lake, Chesley and Meaford. ID- 71762 http://www.owensoundsuntimes.com/webapp/sitepages/content.asp?contentid=71762&catname=Local+news
It's Miller time!
Local Conservative unseats three-term MP
Local news - Tuesday, June 29, 2004 @ 08:00
