VOTE 2019: Peter Kent makes it four straight with victory in Thornhill

'There is personal satisfaction,' says Kent as Conservatives fall short of 'national goal'

Yorkregion.com
Oct. 22, 2019
Aileen Zangouei and John Cudmore

It's no surprise that the 2019 federal election is a grand slam for Peter Kent.

Kent, who first was elected in 2008, has now carried the torch to victory for the Conservatives in four consecutive elections.

As was expected, the former television news journalist scored a wide margin of victory to defeat a field of six candidates led by Liberal runner-up Gary Gladstone.

“We ran a very positive campaign and prevailed again so, in that sense, there is personal satisfaction although we fell short of our national goal,” said Kent, at around 11 p.m. after being declared the winner. “But I am delighted to see we will have good representation across Canada.”

His remarks refer to the Conservatives’ inroads in the Maritimes where a handful of seats shifted back to blue after a Liberal sweep in 2015.

Despite serving as MP since his initial election in 2008, the 76-year-old Kent conceded he worked for the victory.

With 125 of 229 polls reporting, Kent had claimed 51.3 per cent of the vote. Gladstone stat at 37.3 per cent.

“We took nothing for granted,” said Kent. “You can’t do that. People expect to see us at their doors and at the debates. I’m very fortunate to have a strong campaign team that has served the constituents well.”

He jumped out to an early lead and never wavered in delivering one of the few blue seats in the GTA.

“I’ll continue to push for infrastructure projects that are good for Vaughan, Richmond Hill, Markham and the rest of York Region.”