MISSISSAUGA, Oct 3, 2003
THE MISSISSAUGA NEWS
CHRIS CLAY
Dr. Kuldip Kular, the Liberal candidate in the Bramalea-Gore-Malton-Springdale
riding, used "A strong voice for our community" as
his campaign slogan during the 2003 provincial election.
Kular certainly was that voice, capturing the riding with 18,280
votes, 3,371 more than incumbent Raminder Gill's 14,909. Cesar
Martello had 4,908 votes, Ernst Braendli of the Green Party
1,176 , Frank Chilelli 868, and Communist Howard Cukoff 50.,
Kular's supporters didn't have to wait long at his Brampton
campaign headquarters to break into jubilant cheers. He was
declared the winner by 8:52 p.m.
"You people fought so hard, thank you for your effort
and hard work," Kular said, as he was mobbed by well-wishers.
"I'm indebted to the people of this riding. You put your
interest in me and I assure you, I will give 100 per cent as
your representation."
Kular, a resident of Brampton for 17-years, and a practicing
physician, said he never believed his win to be a sure thing.
"It's never in the bag," said the 54-year-old. "We
worked hard right until the last minute...at the end of the
day, the results are there."
When asked why voters turned out en masse to support a political
unknown like himself, Kular gave credit to new Ontario premier,
Dalton McGuinty.
"We believed in our leader and we believed he was up to
the job," said the father of four. "He ran a positive
campaign and that's why the Liberals hold a majority."
When asked how, as a campaign manager, Mark Holland approached
Kular's political inexperience, he said the old approach worked
the best.
"He went door-to-door since February and we estimate he
knocked on over 30,000 doors," said the 28-year-old. "He
met people face to face. We kept hearing he was the only candidate
to visit people's doors during the campaign."
Raminder Gill, who captured 18,442 votes in the 1999 election,
nearly 4,000 more than Liberal runner-up Dave Toor, was gracious
in defeat. Gill went over to Kular's headquarters to personally
congratulate his opponent.
"I wish the new government...and the new premier, Dalton
McGuinty, the best," he said. "We ran an extremely
well-run, classy campaign. Sometimes, people feel like a change.
I'm quite humbled (by the voters' decision) and I want to thank
them all for allowing me to serve."
Gill kept the door open for another campaign in four years,
but not before getting some rest.
"I'm going to have to recuperate and take a well-needed
vacation," he said. "This is not the last campaign
we've won or lost."
