Daryl Kramp joins Harper’s majority team in Ottawa

BELLEVILLE, On. (02/05/11) Incumbent MP Daryl Kramp celebrates a Conservative majority with his family and Mayor Neil Ellis at the Belleville Club. Photo by Linda Ritcey-Horn.

By QNet News Staff

Conservative Daryl Kramp celebrated his fourth election victory at the Belleville Club Monday night.

Kramp won Prince Edward-Hastings riding with a 52 per cent win after 205 polls were tallied, celebrating a Conservative majority.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper was re-elected, this time with a majority government with 168 seats.

“When I go to the door, people, they’ve had an election fatigue. They’re frustrated with the never ending gamesmanship that is going on in Ottawa, and this going to put that to bed for a while,” said Kramp.

For the past seven years Prince Edward – Hastings has leaned Conservative. The riding shifted from Liberal to Conservative in 2004 when Kramp sealed 42 per cent of the vote in his first run for office. It’s been downhill for the Liberals ever since.

NDP candidate Michael McMahon finished second with 12,010 votes.

Although he lost,  McMahon made history by inching ahead of the Liberals in the Prince Edward- Hastings riding.

McMahon said he was “satisfied” with the result but disappointed as well.

“It has been a wild month,” said McMahon, “This time, Jack Layton and the NDP, have really connected with Canadians. The message has really caught on; it’s such a contrast from the other parties. But things can be better.”

Liberal candidate Peter Tinsley finished third with 19  per cent of the vote.

Tinsley spoke to supporters and volunteers gathered at his Dundas Street campaign office shortly after it became clear the Conservatives would win a majority government.  He told the group he was disappointed by the election results, and that he had expected a different outcome.

“I must admit that I am surprised by the results here tonight because I don’t think any of us involved in the campaign had sensed the way the figures are going tonight,” said Tinsley.

Tinsey said he’s learned a lot in the last 37 election days, and learned another lesson on election night.