PRESTON (43)

Candidates:

Current MLA: David Hendsbee (PC)

Riding Profile: This is the province's smallest riding, with a population of 11,640. It encompasses areas of suburban affluence and rural poverty, and was created in 1993 to give black Nova Scotians a better chance of seeing themselves represented in the legislature.

The riding includes historically important black communities at North Preston, East Preston and Cherrybrook. About one third of the riding's residents are black.

It was created from parts of Halifax Eastern Shore and the Cole Harbour area of Dartmouth. Last fall, a boundary change led to the inclusion of Porter's Lake, a quickly growing bedroom community.

Most people in this riding work in Metro Halifax in the trade and service sectors. The average income is $27,580 and 41 per cent of the people have some form of post-secondary training.

Unemployment remains much higher for young black men than the overall seven-per-cent rate for Metro Halifax.

Political History: NDP Yvonne Atwell made political history in Nova Scotia when she became the first black woman to be elected to the legislature in 1998.

Prior to the creation of Preston, the former riding of Halifax Eastern Shore was held in the 1970s by Garnet Brown for the Liberals, and by PC Tom McInnis in the 1980s.

It's always been a difficult race to predict, and this one will be no exception. Doug Sparks represents African-Nova Scotians on the Halifax school board. His two opponents are both well-known former city councillors and provincial MLAs.

1999: PC David Hendsbee received 1,800 votes, defeating NDP Yvonne Atwell (1,496) and LIB Wendell Thomas (509). 1998: NDP Yvonne Atwell defeated PC incumbent Wayne Adams by 229 votes. PC Ross Isenor was third. 1993: LIB Wayne Adams received 1,872 votes to defeat IND David Hendsbee, who polled 1,381. PC Darryl Gray was third with 1,016 and NDP Yvonne Atwell received 584.

Voter Turnout: 62 per cent in 1999.