A special convention of the Canadian Auto Workers elected Ken Lewenza as president of the union on Saturday.

He was the only candidate and was endorsed by outgoing president Buzz Hargrove, who is retiring.

Lewenza had been head of CAW Local 444 in Windsor, Ont.,

He said he will continue trying to protect the Canadian auto industry, where many jobs have been lost as buyers moved to more fuel-efficient cars made by foreign companies — even though the cars are often assembled in Canada or the U.S.

Lewenza encouraged union members present at the meeting in Toronto to vote strategically in the federal election expected to be called on Sunday for Oct. 14.

The Ontario NDP took Hargrove's party membership away after the last election, because he urged union members to vote for Liberal candidates in ridings where New Democrats had little chance of being elected.

Hargrove announced his retirement in July.

With files from the Canadian Press