Ellis wins tight Calgary-West byelection race

Calgary-West will stay Tory blue after voters denied Wildrose their best bet to snag a seat in Monday’s byelection.

The only Conservative candidate in the four-riding race not fighting for a cabinet post, Calgary police sergeant Mike Ellis defeated Wildrose candidate Sheila Taylor in a tightly contested race.

Education was a well-worn plank in many candidates’ platforms.

Both Ellis and Taylor, the latter resigning as a Calgary Board of Education trustee to run for the Wildrose Party, said addressing the overcrowding problems plaguing Calgary-West was the top issue.

“Hands down, it was the schools,” Ellis said.

“As a parent, I’m pleased to be working with the government and helping the families out here.”

A riding left vacant since the resignation of former MLA Ken Hughes, Calgary-West was seen as the toughest battle for the stalwart PCs — one pundits said Ellis would have to work hard to win.

Monday’s vote in Calgary-West also saw New Democratic Party candidate Brian Malkinson, Alberta Liberal candidate David Khan and Alberta Party candidate Troy Millington fall to the battle between Ellis and Taylor.

Bryan.Passifiume@sunmedia.ca

CALGARY WEST RESULTS

Mike Ellis (PC) - 4,843 votes (44.44%)

Sheila Taylor (Wildrose) - 4,528 votes (41.55%)

David Khan (Liberal - 926 votes (8.50%)

Brian Malkinson (NDP) - 33 votes (3.08%)

Troy Millington (Alberta Party) - 265 votes (2.43%)