PCs hold Topsail in byelection

The Progressive Conservative candidate won the provincial byelection in the district of Topsail, near St. John's, on Tuesday.

Paul Davis, a 25-year veteran of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary, took a leave of absence from the police force to run in the byelection.

Davis, 48, is also the deputy mayor of Conception Bay South.

The byelection was called after Elizabeth Marshall, who formerly represented Topsail, was appointed to the Senate by Prime Minister Stephen Harper on Jan. 29.

Marshall won Topsail for the PCs in the last two provincial elections.

According to Elections Newfoundland and Labrador, Davis won with 2,737 votes. Liberal Party candidate Shane Kennedy received 238 votes, while NDP candidate Brian Nolan received 374 votes. Ballots were cast by 33 per cent of the more than 10,000 people who were eligible to vote in the byelection.

The election gives the governing PCs 43 seats in the house of assembly. The Liberal caucus has four members, while NDP holds a single seat.