Narrow win by Dan Muys keeps Flamborough-Glanbrook blue

Dan Muys spent years working behind the scenes on political campaigns - now he's the face of a winning one.

The first-time Conservative candidate narrowly came out on top in what proved to be a tight two-way race with Liberal Vito Sgro to represent Flamborough-Glanbrook in Parliament.

Muys, a communications specialist, claimed 40.8 per cent of the vote with 60 of 174 polls reporting and 3,333 mail-in ballots yet to be counted.

It's been an exciting night. I've felt optimistic from the get-go, lots of positive signs and signals," said Muys, who watched the election results pour in alongside staff and family at a venue on Highway 5. I've heard encouragement all day."

The rural riding was considered a toss-up when longtime Conservative incumbent David Sweet - whose former chief of staff was Muys - decided not to seek re-election. Sweet announced his mintentions to retire from federal politics after he received criticism for pandemic comments and travel.

Muys, who grew up on a small farm in Copetown, called the experience of running for office different," but not entirely unfamiliar.

It's certainly different compared to my other, 30-some-odd years involved in politics," he said, chuckling. But my team are all people I've worked with in the past, so that part of the campaign is the same, but it's different to be the public face. And I look forward to that."

The 50-year-old held a slight lead over Sgro for much of Monday night before the riding was called.

Sgro, a former Hamilton mayoral candidate, finished with 33.9 per cent of the vote, while NDP Lorne Newick garnered 16.7 per cent.

Geographically, Flamborough-Glanbrook is more than three times the size of Hamilton's other four ridings combined.

The riding contains virtually all of the city's rural area as well as two of the city's fastest growing suburban communities - Binbrook and Waterdown.

Sebastian Bron is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator. Reach him via email: sbron@thespec.com