Liberal Bill Casey's road back to Ottawa began with email from Justin Trudeau
Casey has won his riding as a Progressive Conservative, Conservative, Independent and Liberal
Even Bill Casey says he didn't see it coming.
The newly minted Liberal member for Cumberland-Colchester jokes he only owned one red tie. And there was a day when he never dreamed his face would be on a red Liberal campaign sign.
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But an email from Justin Trudeau just over a year ago changed all that with an offer to have Casey come out of retirement and run for the Liberal team.
It's been said that Casey's workers put up more Liberal signs than any other riding in the country — 6,500. It might well have taken many people a little time to get used to the image of the long-time Conservative's face there.
But the message on those signs — "Send Stephen Harper a message" — struck a chord with people.
That sentiment had people like Scott Lockhart, the one-time riding association president for Conservatives, jumping ship for Casey's crew.
"He's just Bill. People here believe in Bill," Lockhart says.
Another red tie
Casey was kicked out of the Conservative caucus when he voted against the Harper government's budget in 2007. When he won the seat again as an independent in 2008, it was redemption for the popular member of Parliament.
In this election night, there was a hint of revenge in Teazers Pub in Amherst, home to the Liberal election night headquarters. He won the riding by more than 15,000 over Conservative Scott Armstrong, who was once Casey's campaign chair.
"Harper's no more!" the crowd cheered. And when a Liberal majority was declared they almost raised the roof.
Through it all Casey, worked the room — smiling and shaking hands and thanking workers who clearly got the vote out.
Bill Casey has delivered the riding one more time. One of his campaign signs was crudely doctored. "Message sent" was scrawled across it.
No one seems to know for sure if there has ever been a candidate that has won a riding as a Progressive Conservative, Conservative, Independent and Liberal. But at 70 years of age, it's clear Casey has added to his already legendary political status in this part of the province.
Time to buy another red tie.
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