HALIFAX ATLANTIC (25)

Candidates:

Current MLA: Robert Chisholm (ND) - not running

Riding Profile: The riding stretches from the Armdale Rotary along Herring Cove Road, Spryfield and Old Sambro Road to Pennant Point.

It takes in Melville Cove, Jolllimore, Boulderwood, Purcell Cove, Williams Lake, Harrietsfield, Ferguson’s Cove, Thornhill, Green Acres and Leiblin Park. There's a wide range of rich and poor in this riding, from the mansions in Pine Bluff to public housing in Spryfield.

The population is 21,360 and the average income is $27,570.

Political History: Former PC premier John Buchanan owned this riding from 1967 to 1990. Each election, he and his wife, Mavis, would stand and wave to motorists as they navigated the Armdale Rotary. The New Democrats claimed it when Robert Chisholm, who later became party leader, won a byelection in 1991. All three political parties hope to win this riding now that Chisholm isn’t running.

The Liberals are running a popular piper and musician, the PCs are backing a municipal councillor and the NDP have a candidate connected to the Spryfield Gardens Project who is active in the local community.

1999: NDP Robert Chisholm defeated PC Bruce Cooke by 1,472 votes. 1998: NDP Robert Chisholm defeated LIB Darren Watts by 2,546 votes. 1993: NDP Robert Chisholm defeated LIB Randy Ball by 18 votes.

Voter Turnout: 65 per cent in 1999.