Progressive Conservative Michael Harris will be heading to Queen’s Park to represent Kitchener-Conestoga.
Defeating Liberal incumbent Leeanna Pendergast in last week’s election was just part of the good news Harris would relay to his supporters at Conestoga Place Oct. 6. Harris and his fiancée, Sarah, are expecting a child early next year.
Harris won the riding with more than 43 per cent of the vote with Pendergast receiving 36 per cent. The NDP’s Mark Cairns took just over 17 per cent and The Green Party’s Robert Rose finished fourth with 2 per cent.
“We took our plan to the people of Kitchener-Conestoga to invest in health care and education, clean up government waste and provide tax relief for Ontario families and the voters in the riding choose the change,” said Harris.
This was the second time Harris ran in the riding, having lost to Pendergast in 2007 by less than 2,000 votes.
“I know what it is like to put in endless hours as a candidate and a volunteer and I thank everyone who volunteered and strengthened the democratic process,” said Harris. “No one knows more about the hard work and sacrifices than our families and I could not have done it with out the support of mine and enduring the political chat for years and years.”
Harris said friends and campaign volunteers helped bring the change to Kitchener-Conestoga, adding he hopes “the win is as gratifying for them” as it is for him.
“My goal is to represent the people of the community to the best of my abilities,” said Harris. “We have an MP (Harold Albrecht) that sets the bar high in this riding and it will be my job to give him a good run for his money – in a good way. His guidance has helped me and I look forward to working along side him representing the riding both federally and provincially.”
The 32-year-old said he is ready for the job and will be listening to all the concerns and comments from the people living within the riding adding he will “be a strong voice for our community.”
Before being voted in as MPP, Harris was a business development manager at Honeywell, a company that invents and manufactures technologies to address challenges to safety, security, and energy.
