STEPHENVILLE, N.L. — Tony Wakeham said the PCs are going to push for this minority Liberal government to change how they do business.
He made the comment shortly after learning that he was elected MHA for the Stephenville-Port au Port District, ousting John Finn, the incumbent Liberal MHA by 31 votes.
In the unofficial count, Wakeham had 2,512 votes to Finn’s 2,481 votes.
Wakeham said he had never been a politician in his life but was asked to run for the leader of the PC Party, a challenge he accepted, but lost out to Ches Crosbie.
That led to him wanting to run in a district and since he was now living in Kippens, he decided to run for Stephenville-Port au Port.
“It’s my home now and I see so much potential for this area,” he said.
Wakeham said during the campaign he has seen so many people who need a hand up, not a hand out, that his promise is to commit to the people of the district.
Meanwhile, Finn said he will request a recount as he feels he owes it to his supporters.
He said despite his loss, life goes on and he’s a firm believer everything happens for a reason.
He said right now he owes his parents some quality family time, which had been lacking a little with the demands of his job as MHA.
Finn said he very much enjoyed having the opportunity to represent the Stephenville – Port au Port District for the past three years.
“It was a truly humbling experience and I felt blessed to have been fortunate enough to have helped so many individuals and communities during my short time in office.”
He said Stephenville is his home, where he has lived, worked and volunteered and he would never turn his back on the town and area.
Asked if he would run again in the future, he said he would never rule anything out.
