Bob Bailey has been elected for a fifth term in Sarnia-Lambton.
The Progressive Conservative incumbent was declared the winner about five minutes after the polls closed in the riding.
Counting was delayed at 27 polling stations across the province, including one in Sarnia-Lambton, due to several issues including either opening late, or some having to move locations because of technical issues. As a result, the counting of ballots in the district was delayed until 9:30 p.m.
Bailey thanked the party faithful gathered at the Petrolia Legion on Glenview Road for all their support.
(Bob Bailey arriving at the Petrolia Legion on election night June 2, 2022. Blackburn Media photo by Melanie Irwin.)
"I want to thank my wife and my family of course," said Bailey. "I got a great campaign team, there's many of you in the room I want to thank personally, but all of the people that put up signs, thank you again."
He said he has a lot of work left that he wants to finish in Sarnia-Lambton.
"I want to see Highway 40 twinned, Wellington to Indian Road, we started it and I want to see that finished. The withdrawal management centre at Bluewater Health, we've got a lot of work to do there. I want to see that up and running and open."
NDP Candidate Dylan Stelpstra finished second in the riding with about 24 per cent of the vote.
"I'm really proud of the work that we put into our campaign, we're very happy with the work that we put in and the number of doors we were able to knock on in this community, the number of people we were able to hear from, it was just awesome," said Stelpstra. "We heard from a lot of people who felt like their voice wasn't heard, and a lot of people who really aren't happy with how things have been going for the last four years."
Stelpstra was followed by Liberal candidate Mark Russell who finished a distant third, followed by the New Blue Party's Keith Benn and the Green Party's Mason Bourdeau.
Carla Olson ran as a first time candidate for the Populist Party of Ontario.
She told Sarnia News Today that despite the results, she was happy she ran.
"I can't feel bad with all this support," said Olson. "It's been a long run, it's been a lot of work. I learned that you need to have really thick skin. It just made me have a greater appreciation for anyone who runs as a candidate, it's a job, it's a big job."
With files from Melanie Irwin
