Glen Savoie seeks Saint John East riding for Tories again

Saint John East Progressive Conservative candidate Glen Savoie says he's back out knocking on doors.

​Savoie, who lost the Sept. 22 election by nine votes, is now running in the riding's byelection after the winner, Liberal Gary Keating, resigned citing health and family reasons.

Savoie said he doesn't mind running for a seat in the Opposition.

"The role of Opposition is not just to oppose. The role of Opposition is to hold the government to account and having a strong consistent voice," he said.

"A strong PC caucus will allow us to do that."

The Liberals have 26 seats, the Progressive Conservatives have 21 seats and the Green Party has a single seat.

Savoie, who sat as an MLA in David Alward's Tory government, received the Tory nomination at a convention held on Wednesday night.

Interim Progressive Conservative Leader Bruce Fitch told the crowd that Savoie has proven himself as a hard-working and compassionate MLA and a great representative for the people of Saint John.

Savoie is running against two brand new candidates in the Nov. 17 byelection.

Saint John Deputy Mayor Shelley Rinehart is seeking the seat for the Liberals and NDP Leader Dominic Cardy is running for his party.