NDP candidate Sarah Campbell arrives at her Dryden campaign office to the cheers of supporters following a decisive win in the race for the Kenora Rainy-River riding. Photo by Chris MarchandNDP candidate Sarah Campbell arrives at her Dryden campaign office to the cheers of supporters following a decisive win in the race for the Kenora Rainy-River riding. Photo by Chris Marchand

Following in the steps of Howard Hampton, the New Democrats’ Sarah Campbell is the unofficial victor of the race for the Kenora Rainy-River Riding.

Hampton’s former aide, Campbell clinched her seat in Queen’s Park capturing 49.4 per cent of the vote (10,518), with a few polling stations yet to report in.

Progressive Conservative candidate Rod McKay, a sawmill manager and Kenora City Councillor, was the runner up, with 38 per cent of the vote (8,105).

Campbell says over the past month she’s learned a lot about what the people of her riding are looking for in a leader. She credits her former boss, Hampton, for setting the bar high.

“Someone who is hard-working, sincere; also someone who reaches out and really engages people,” said Campbell. “I think a lot of people were really feeling disconnected. When you feel disconnected you feel apathetic as well.”

Campbell says the people of riding are concerned with the province’s role in the cost of living.

“Affordability and jobs — I think those were the two biggest things,” said Campbell. “People are feeling squeezed and they are really feeling the disappearance of our middle class. They’ve seen our jobs just disappear for the region. People like living here and they should be able to comfortably as they’ve always done.”

Liberal leader Dalton McGuinty’s unpopularity in northwestern Ontario was reflected in Liberal candidate Anthony Leek’s third place finish. Leek received just under 2,100 votes for less than 10 per cent of the vote. While retaining his job as Premier, McGuinty’s Liberals fell just one seat shy (53) of maintaining their majority.

Queen’s Park will see 37 seats occupied by PC members and 17 seats among the NDP.

The Green Party’s Jojo Holiday received 374 votes for 1.8 per cent and Northern Ontario Heritage Party’s Charmaine, a late-comer to the 2011 campaign, earned 215 votes (1 per cent).

By Chris Marchand