MUSQUODOBOIT VALLEY: Scott Armstrong, the Conservative candidate in the Cumberland-Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley by-election, has brought the riding back to Tory blue.

The elementary school teacher captured 45 per cent of the popular vote, garnering 11,167 ballots cast in the Nov. 9, by-election.

“I’m quite honoured and humbled with the results,” he said on his win. “To have the support of this riding is great.”

Armstrong has years of experience with politics, working with past MP Bill Casey on his election campaigns both as a Conservative and an Independent and more recently has acted as the party president of the Progressive Conservative Party of Nova Scotia.

NDP candidate Mark Austin, who resides in Old Barns, came in a distant second, having 6, 267 votes cast in his favour, while Green Oaks-based Liberal Jim Burrows placed third with, 5,193.

Jason Blanch, of the Green Party, and Jim Hnatiuk, leader of the Christian Heritage Party, battled it out for fourth and fifth position, with Amherst-based Blanch coming out on top with 807 votes, compared to Hnatiuk’s 776. Independent candidate, Kate Graves, came in a distant sixth with 149 votes.

Roughly one third of voters, 24,000, of a potential approximately 68,000, cast a ballot in the by-election. Armstrong says out of the four by-election held across the country, Cumberland-Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley had one of the better turn outs.

“It’s hard to get the attention of voters in a by-election, because there isn’t a lot of national exposure,” he said.

All candidates agree voters are, voted out, with elections for all forms of government taking place in 2008 and 2009.

Blanch admits he was surprised with the results.

“I’m actually very shocked. People seem to forget rather quickly,” he said of the previous election when voters elected Bill Casey as an Independent MP after he was ejected from the Conservative Party. Casey won the last election as an Independent in a landslide.

He’s surprised they voted Conservatives back in, but says that often happens in cases such as the Nov. 9, by-election.

“It’s proven that elections with low voter turnouts usually go in the favour of Conservatives,” Blanch added.”

Austin, the NDP candidate, was hoping the recent success of the provincial NDP party would continue and transfer into federal politics.

“The province swept orange in June, and we were hoping to do the same,” he said.

Austin had the greatest support all candidates in regards to support from the party leaders. NDP leader Jack Layton visited his riding twice during the campaign.

While doing better than Karen Olsson, the NDP candidate in the last federal election, Austin couldn’t capture the undecided vote

Since the election, Armstrong has already been in touch with several ministers in regards to the seawall in Advocate Harbour, and several other projects he is looking for immediate support for, including the Civic Centre in Truro.

“I wanted to make sure I’m doing all I can for these projects,” he said.

Armstrong wanted to take time to thank all of the candidates in the race, and said it was an excellent campaign.

“All campaigns, they were run on the issue. Everyone ran a strong campaign,” he said. “There wasn’t one personal attack.”

The newly-elected MP is now in the process of becoming more familiar with his new role and is excited to represent his constituents.

“Now that the election is over, I don’t just represent the Conservatives, I represent everyone in the riding and I’ll do the best job I can.”

And to do that, he has taken the step of resigning from his current position as president of the PC party of Nova Scotia.

“This was a difficult decision for me to make as I have thoroughly enjoyed serving as Progressive Conservative president under the leadership of Rodney MacDonald and Karen Casey,” said Armstrong. “But after consulting with my family, friends and supporters, it’s time for me to turn the page and devote 100 per cent of my time working for the people of Cumberland-Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley as their Member of Parliament.”

Executive vice president Rob Batherson will become the new president and will serve until the party’s annual general meeting February 5-7, 2010.

Armstrong adds he is excited to make the jump from behind-the-scenes in politics to represent everyone in Cumberland-Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley.

acameron@enfieldweeklypress.com