MHA-elect Kevin Parsons and Premier Danny Williams speak to supporters at PC headquarters in Cape St. Francis on Wednesday night (CBC)

Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Danny Williams maintained his huge majority in the province's legislature Wednesday as his Progressive Conservatives won two byelections.

In the district of Cape St. Francis, Kevin Parsons easily outpolled his opposition, tallying 2,685 votes compared to 972 for the NDP's Kathleen Connors and just 317 for Liberal Tonia Power-Mercer.

In Baie Verte-Springdale, the numbers were slightly closer, but the result was the same.

With 41 out of 45 polls reported, Tory candidate Kevin Pollard garnered 1,769 votes, Shaun Lane of the Liberals was second with 1,109 and the NDP's Tim Howse brought up the rear with 282.

The turnout in both districts was light, with less than 50 per cent of eligible voters going to the polls.

Sigh of relief in Springdale

A big cheer filled the room at the Progressive Conservative headquarters in Springdale when Kevin Pollard was declared the winner Wednesday evening.

People in the room had been wondering if former MHA Tom Rideout's public feud with Premier Danny Williams would cause people in the Baie Verte-Springdale district to vote Liberal or New Democrat.

Kevin Pollard admitted he was nervous heading into the vote.

"There was some disillusionment, some disenchantment, some disgruntlement among the voters in that side of the bay, but at the end of the day … cooler heads prevailed, and I think that issue is behind us," Pollard said.

Liberal candidate Shaun Lane said he did what he could to win with just two weeks of campaigning.

Lane said 1,109 votes is 50 per cent more than the Liberals recieved in the past, and the PC party should take that as a warning that people in rural Newfoundland are looking for change.

Like father, like son

Cape St. Francis victor Kevin Parsons will follow in his fathers footsteps when he enters the house of assembly in St. John's. Kevin Parsons Sr., was a Tory cabinet minister in the 1980s.

After the votes were counted, Parsons told his supporters that his win was a credit to their hard work and good organization.

"Coming back here in the nighttime and seeing you people here on the phones, calling people till 9:30," Parsons said. "This was all new to me. I mean, when my father was on the go, we ran it a little different.… It's unbelievable how it works, and I learned a lot from how you people worked."

Parsons said his priority will be building the Torbay bypass road and a new school, and to finish a new arena for the region.