Cao in fight to defend Fort against Mangat
Political veteran and former Legislature deputy speaker Wayne Cao held a small lead over his Wildrose Alliance opponent Jeevan Mangat a t press t i me Mondayinthe riding of Calgary-fort.
“As I went out knocking I said ‘look at my work and I want to renew the contract with constituents,’ ” said Cao. “They all smiled and said ‘That’s a good idea.’”
Political newcomer Mangat had a tough race ahead of him facing the popular incumbent.
Mangat, a 54-year-old commercial property manager, has no previous political experi- ence.
A spokesman for his campaign said the vote was too close to comment on late Monday.
Cao, 65, was first elected in 1997 in the riding of CalgaryFort, which was when the riding was created. He was elected again in 2001, 2004 and 2008, when he defeated second-place candidate Liberal Carole Oliver by 2,353 votes.
In 2008, he became deputy Speaker of the Legislature.
Cao credited the positivity of the Progressive Conservative campaign in general for what some were calling a surprise victory Monday night.
“Leadership is not attacking, leadership is about presenting the future,” says Cao. “We have a very proud past and an exciting future.”
Other candidates running in the riding include Said Abdulbaki of the Alberta Liberal Party, Don Monroe of the Alberta New Democrats and Janice Dixon of the Evergreen Party of Alberta.