Tory Denis leads in Acadia
Top cop vocal champion of new drinking driving laws
Incumbent PC MLA Jonathan Denis entered his campaign office to cheers and a belief the lead he had over Wildrose challenger Richard Jones was enough to hold onto his seat.
“We did it tonight! We did it!” he told clapping supporters.
“We presented our record — which I’m proud of — we presented our agenda, and we presented our plan, and we won.”
At press time, Denis led Jones by approximately 500 votes.
Jones’ campaign couldn’t be immediately reached for comment.
This south Calgary riding has been on the front line of an ideological battle over the province’s tough new impaired driving rules.
As solicitor general prior to dissolution of the legislature, Denis, 36, was one of the most vocal champions of legislation imposing administrative penalties for drivers with a blood-alcohol content above .05 but below the .08 reading required to lay criminal charges.
The Wildrose party had promised to repeal the legislation, and Jones, 46, had been spearheading his party’s opposition to it.
Jones, a Calgary lawyer, coordinated the distribution of thousands of coasters to bars and restaurants throughout the province, urging voters to “drink responsibly” and “vote responsibly” against the Redford government and the .05 legislation.
Liberal Nicole Hankel was running third, trailed by New Democrat Nick Lepora and Evergreen candidate Antoni Grochowski.
Calgary-acadia was created in 2010 as part of a redistribution of seats throughout the province.
Denis won the riding as a rookie candidate in 2008 under its previous name, Calgary-egmont.
As Calgary-egmont, the riding was held by the PCS since 1971, when the party swept into power by defeating the Social Credit government.
We did it tonight! We presented our record — which I’m proud of — we presented our agenda, and we presented our plan, and we won.
JONATHAN DENIS