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10 -- PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, September 15, 1987 Sam Cureatz prepares to greet a supporter at his election night headquarters in Bowmanville. He retained his seat for the Conservatives. | Sam Cureatz campaign manager Dr. Peter Zakarow shows some concern as he follows the early returns on election night. Zakarow's frown turned to a smile as Cureatz won by a fairly com- fortable margin. In Durham York riding, former Uxbridge Mayor Bill Ballinger took the riding away from Conservtive incumbent Ross Steven: son by about 400 votes. It was Ballinger's first venture in provin- cial politics and his Liberal Party supporters were in a happy mood" at a victory celebration at the Uxbridge Arena on election night. Al (From page 1) paign," he told the crowd, many of whom were shell-shocked at the ex- tent of the Liberal sweep through Ontario. Commenting on the defeat of Con- servative leader Larry Grossman, Cureatz said he anticipates the Tory caucus will appoint northern On- tario MPP Allen Pope as an interim leader in the Legislature until the Party can hold a full-fledged leader- ship convention. And he said the Tory Party in On- tario has a lot of rebuilding to do over the next four years and must find a way to regain the 'middle vote." "We (Tories) have to convince voters that we really do care about people," he stated in a conversation with reporters later. Cureatz had words of praise for the way fallen leader Larry Grossman was difinitive on issues through the campaign like free Liberal candidate Diane Hamre and campaign manager Gary Herrema managed to smile as they met with campaign workers trade, bilingualism, strikes in the civil service and back to basic education matters. When asked why he was able to hang onto his seat in the face of a Liberal sweep and two credible can- didates in the Durham East, Cureatz pointed to his constituency record. "I have always done my best to tend to the needs of the riding and the people. That was my choice ten years ago and it still is," he said. Cureatz, wearing a light gray business suit, a blue tie with the logo PC on it and a large blue carnation in his lapel, spent about 20 minutes at his campaign HQ thanking his manager Peter Zakarow and all who worked on his re-election. He then left for a victory celebration at a Bowmanville area restaurant. Cureatz told reporters that the campaign in Durham East was fought cleanly and above board. He called both Diane Hamre and Marg last Thursday evening. Mrs. Hamre trailed Conservative Sam Cureatz all-evening in the riding of Durham East. RY x Durham East Liberal candidate Diane Hamre with members of her family on election Cureatz somehow avoids Grit crimson tidal wave Wilbur "very professional" and said their campaign teams conducted themselves in like fashion. For Diane Hamre, a popular and high profile municipal politician who lives in Orono, the defeat was obviously a bitter one, but she kept the disappointment to herself when she arrived about 11:15 at her elec- tion night HQ at the Orono Hall. She was delighted with the Liberal Party fortunes across the province and the in-roads she made in building Party support in Durham East. Hamre hinted that she plans to seek election again at the provincial level in this riding. For New Democrat Marg Wilbur, she was most disappointed with the third place showing and the fact the Party did not win more seats across the province. (See separate story in this issue of the Star). In Scugog Township, Mrs. Wilbur won five of the 30 polls and tied one. She won both polls in Caesarea, one in the Blackstock area and one in the southeast corner of the Township. She also won one poll in south Port Perry and tied a poll in the View Lake area. Cureatz showed strength in all areas of the riding and in Scugog, he polled 2342 votes to 2118 for Hamre and 1716 for Wilbur. . The only area Cureatz lost was in Manvers where he polled 495 to 518 for Hamre. Manvers used to be in Liberal cabinet minister John Eakins riding before redistribution. One of Cureatz' campaign workers said they considered this the "bell weather" area for Cureatz. If he could hold his own in this new area, he would likely win re-election. Ironically, Cureatz lost his home poll in Newcastle by 34 votes, while Hamre managed to win her home poll in Orona by just eight votes and Wilbur lost her home poll in Reach Township by 23 votes to Hamre. Throughout Scugog Township, Cureatz won 16 of the 30 polls (one tie) and showed strength in the rural areas and Scugog Island. All three candidates enjoyed support in the village of Port Perry with most of the ten polls decided by just a hand- ful of votes. The election in Durham East ran smoothly with polls reporting short- ly after 8 p.m. and continuing to just after 10 p.m. The returning office Francine Newton said the next day there were no unusual problems or delays and the number of spoiled ballots was about average. Final tallies were not available Friday morning. night last Thursday. The disappointment in her loss is registered on their faces.