Graham Letto is a Canadian politician, who served in the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly from 2015 until 2019.[1] He represented the district of Labrador West as a member of the Newfoundland and Labrador Liberal Party.
Graham Letto | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly for Labrador West | |
| In office November 30, 2015 – April 16, 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Nick McGrath |
| Succeeded by | Jordan Brown |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Liberal |
Prior to his election to the legislature, Letto served as mayor of Labrador City, Newfoundland and Labrador from 2001 until 2009.[2]
Background edit
He was born in Forteau and grew up in L'Anse-au-Clair.
Political career edit
In 1989, Letto sought election to the town council of Labrador City, and was elected. He was also re-elected to the council in 1993 and 1997. Then in 2001, Letto was elected as mayor of Labrador City.[3] During the 2003 Newfoundland and Labrador general election, he ran in the provincial riding of Labrador West as the Progressive Conservative candidate, but was defeated by Randy Collins of the NDP.
On May 24, 2005, Letto ran for the Conservative Party of Canada in the Labrador riding in a by-election.[4] Letto lost, but increased the Conservative vote in the traditional Liberal riding substantially.[5]
On September 27, 2005, Letto was re-elected mayor of Labrador City in the 2005 municipal election.[6] He did not seek a third term during the 2009 municipal elections,[7] and was succeeded by Janice Barnes.
Letto received a Federation of Canadian Municipalities Roll of Honour Award in June 2014.[8]
In August 2015, Letto was nominated as the Liberal candidate in Labrador West for the 2015 provincial election.[9][10] On November 30, 2015, Letto won the seat, defeating New Democrat and former Wabush Mayor Ron Barron and Progressive Conservative incumbent Nick McGrath.[11][12]
On November 8, 2018, Letto was appointed Minister of Municipal Affairs and Environment.[13]
In the 2019 provincial election Letto was defeated by NDP candidate Jordan Brown in a major upset.[14][15][16]
Electoral record edit
Provincial edit
| 2019 Newfoundland and Labrador general election | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
| New Democratic | Jordan Brown | 1,364 | 42.2 | +7.47 | ||||
| Liberal | Graham Letto | 1,362 | 42.1 | -1.71 | ||||
| Progressive Conservative | Derick Sharron | 509 | 15.7 | -5.76 | ||||
| Total valid votes | ||||||||
| Total rejected ballots | ||||||||
| Turnout | ||||||||
| Eligible voters | ||||||||
| 2015 Newfoundland and Labrador general election | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
| Liberal | Graham Letto | 1,453 | 43.8 | |||||
| New Democratic | Ron Barron | 1,152 | 34.7 | |||||
| Progressive Conservative | Nick McGrath | 712 | 21.5 | |||||
| 2003 Newfoundland and Labrador general election | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
| New Democratic | Randy Collins | 2,762 | 55.71 | +7.88 | ||||
| Progressive Conservative | Graham Letto | 1,142 | 23.03 | +15.93 | ||||
| Labrador Party | Ern Condon | 631 | 12.73 | – | ||||
| Liberal | Doris Sacrey | 423 | 8.53 | -36.54 | ||||
| Total valid votes | 4,958 | 99.72 | ||||||
| New Democratic hold | Swing | +22.21 | ||||||
| Source: Newfoundland & Labrador 2003 | ||||||||
Federal edit
| Canadian federal by-election, May 24, 2005: Labrador | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
| Liberal | Todd Russell | 5,438 | 51.48 | -10.75 | $53,970.30 | |||
| Conservative | Graham Letto | 3,415 | 32.33 | +16.56 | $73,509.62 | |||
| New Democratic | Frances Fry | 1,045 | 9.89 | +0.25 | $26,121.42 | |||
| Independent | Ern Condon | 598 | 5.66 | -4.69 | $254.00 | |||
| Green | Jason Crummey | 68 | 0.64 | -1.37 | $78.45 | |||
| Total valid votes/Expense limit | 10,564 | 100.0 | – | $74,995 | ||||
| Total rejected, declined and unmarked ballots | 58 | 0.55 | +0.03 | |||||
| Turnout | 10,622 | 53.44 | +8.62 | |||||
| Eligible voters | 19,876 | |||||||
| Liberal hold | Swing | -13.6 | ||||||
| Called on the death of Lawrence D. O'Brien, December 16, 2004 | ||||||||
References edit
- ^ "Cabinet ministers Letto and Hawkins among 9 defeated Liberals". CBC News Newfoundland and Labrador, May 17, 2019.
- ^ "IOC donates land for residential project in Labrador City". Ironore. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
- ^ Dunham, Ty (13 August 2015). "'This is my home'". The Aurora. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
- ^ "Five candidates vie for Labrador seat". The Globe and Mail. 4 May 2005. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
- ^ "Liberals win by-election". The Globe and Mail. 24 May 2005. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
- ^ "Status quo in Goose; new faces in Lab City". The Telegram. St. John's. 28 September 2005.
- ^ "Labrador City mayor says it's time to go". The Telegram. St. John's. September 1, 2009. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved December 2, 2015.
- ^ "Recognizing Graham Letto on receiving a Federation of Canadian Municipalities Roll of Honour Award". June 4, 2014. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved June 15, 2014.
- ^ "Graham Letto takes Liberal nomination for Labrador West". CBC News. August 25, 2015. Retrieved December 2, 2015.
- ^ "Letto takes Liberal nomination". The Aurora. August 25, 2015. Archived from the original on 26 September 2015. Retrieved December 2, 2015.
- ^ "Liberal Graham Letto wins Labrador West district". The Telegram. St. John's. November 30, 2015. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved December 2, 2015.
- ^ "Labrador goes Liberal in Election 2015 as party sweeps all 4 seats". CBC News. December 1, 2015. Retrieved December 2, 2015.
- ^ "Dwight Ball recruits new blood for cabinet to replace Kirby, Joyce". CBC News. November 8, 2018. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
- ^ "NDP clinging to 5-vote victory in Lab West after official addition of vote tally". CBC News. May 19, 2019. Archived from the original on May 20, 2019.
- ^ MacEachern, Daniel (May 16, 2019). "Exuberant NDP celebrates 'new era' as it holds St. John's seats, and wins back Labrador West". CBC News. Retrieved Nov 25, 2020.
- ^ Roberts, Kelly-Anne (May 17, 2019). "'We have the balance of power,' Alison Coffin says as NDP wins three seats". NTV.