Shawn Graham cruised to the top job in New Brunswick's Liberal party during a convention Saturday.
Graham, one of only seven Liberals in the provincial legislature, received 1,349 votes, roughly three times more than the only other candidate, Jack MacDougall.
In his victory speech, Graham talked about the importance of education and health care to the province.
He pledged to defeat Conservative Premier Bernard Lord in the next election, which some people think may be called as early as this fall.
The Liberals have been without a permanent leader since Camille Theriault, a former premier, quit last year.
Graham, 34, pointed out that the last four premiers elected in New Brunswick have been in their thirties.
"It speaks well of the population of our province to allow young people to bring forward ideas and make the province move ahead," he said.
But Lord, 36, said he's confident he will be able to defeat Graham. The premier appears to have at least one number on his side, according to political historians, and it has nothing to do with age. No party in New Brunswick has ever been knocked out of power after only one term. Graham, however, said he intends to change that.
Share Tools
Latest New Brunswick News Headlines
- Cataractes advance to Memorial Cup final by beating Sea Dogs
- Yannick Veilleux broke a tie at 13:14 of the third period as the host Shawinigan Cataractes upset the defending champion Saint John Sea Dogs 7-4 in the semifinal of the Mastercard Memorial Cup on Friday night. more »
- 4 arrests in Elsipogtog drug trafficking case
- Four people are facing charges in connection with a two-month long investigation into prescription drug trafficking on Elsipogtog First Nation. more »
- David Alward worried about EI changes
- Premier David Alward says he's worried proposed changes to employment insurance will hurt seasonal industries in the province, such as fishing, forestry and tourism. more »
- Pharmacists get generic drug pricing 'transition period'
- New Brunswick pharmacists will be allowed a 10-day transition period to help them adjust to the province's new generic drug pricing policy, Health Minister Madeleine Dube announced Friday. more »
Top News Headlines
- Everest team unable to bring down Toronto woman's body
- Bad weather has hampered the recovery team that is attempting to bring down the body of a Toronto woman who died trying to climb Mt. Everest. more »
- Attack on Syrian villages deadliest yet, activists say
- More than 90 people have been killed by regime forces in a district of central Syria, with the head of the UN team in the country confirming more than 32 children and 60 adults were killed the attack. more »
- Aylmer triple stabbing leads to first-degree murder charges

- The estranged partner of a young mother who was stabbed to death along with her parents at their home in Aylmer, Que., has been charged with first-degree murder Friday. more »
- The risks and responsibilities of taking on Mt. Everest

- The deaths of six climbers last weekend on Mt. Everest, with more summits underway this weekend, fuels the debate about the risks and responsibilities of high altitude climbing. more »
- 4 arrests in Elsipogtog drug trafficking case
- David Alward worried about EI changes
- Woman robs store in Tracadie-Sheila
- Loose dog prevents mail delivery to area residents
- Pension snafu may erode public trust, says Norton
- Main Street reopened to traffic
- Pharmacists get generic drug pricing 'transition period'
- Moncton adds female firefighter to its ranks
- Bathurst teen charged with attempted murder

