TRURO - Charles Cox couldn't stop smiling last night.
He was chosen to represent the Nova Scotia Progressive Conservatives in Truro and area during the next provincial election.
Cox, of Truro, defeated Bible Hill's Christine Grimm during a nomination meeting at Cobequid Educational Centre .
There were close to 900 registered Tory members who could have voted. Meeting officials would not release the specific vote count for each person, but did verify three-quarters of eligible voters cast a ballot.
"I'm overwhelmed and very grateful," said Cox after Grimm congratulated him and he thanked the voters.
"I'll do my utmost to reward the confidence you have shown to me."
He also told the Truro Daily News the very first thing he thought when his name was announced was, "did I hear right?"
Cox's speech earlier in the evening stated he would "voice your concerns and your concerns alone," to the government, adding, "I will be 100 per cent accessible to your concerns."
Cox focused on issues such as health care and government accountability, to name a few.
"It's a moral responsibility that we can't abandon ... to receive care when needed," he said about the struggling health-care sector.
About fiscal responsibility, Cox insisted it "should begin at the top; taxpayers should not feel the pinch."
Bible Hill's Susan Thompson Mahar voted for Cox. She said he was the best candidate because he addressed "the every-day person and making ends meet. He's approachable and he has a lot more life experience," said Thompson Mahar.
Grimm's approach was to focus on personal interactions she's had with families of special needs children and concerns expressed to her from the public.
"Parents and grandparents are very concerned about education cuts ... we need a long-term education plan" that's equal for all children, said Grimm.
She also said "empathy, compassion, respect and candor" are required when dealing with concerns such as health care and proper governance.
"We wake up every morning (to the) same problems ... hospital closures and wait times and we are yet to see any real improvement" from the NDP, said Grimm.
Also, she said, "we need to find inefficiencies in government and get rid of them."
One of Grimm's supporters was Bible Hill's Anne Wight.
"She has the educational background and energy and positive outlook," said Wight. "She's assertive and has personal experience with special needs."
PC Leader Jamie Baillie also spoke at the event. Part of his speech included making two promises if the Tories win the next provincial election.
"We will make it the law that there are no more strikes in essential services," he said, and "... we will never make empty promises."
mchiasson@trurodaily.com
