Chatham-Kent-Leamington MPP Rick Nicholls (left) and former CKL MP Dave Van Kesteren (right) pose with Dave Epp after he was elected in the riding on October 21, 2019. (Photo by Allanah Wills)Chatham-Kent-Leamington MPP Rick Nicholls (left) and former CKL MP Dave Van Kesteren (right) pose with Dave Epp after he was elected in the riding on October 21, 2019. (Photo by Allanah Wills)
Chatham

Outgoing Chatham-Kent-Leamington MP passes the torch

A Member of Parliament who has served Chatham-Kent-Leamington for over a decade is able to walk away, leaving the riding in the hands of someone he trusts.

Conservative Dave Epp was elected as the new MP for the Chatham-Kent—Leamington on Monday night. There to offer his support was outgoing MP Dave Van Kesteren, who announced his intention to retire in 2018.

Now that the moment has arrived, Van Kesteren said it's a decision he's "really okay" with and something he and his wife have discussed thoroughly.

"We knew that this was the right time to [retire]," he said.

Although the federal election did not exactly turn out how Conservatives had hoped it would, Van Kesteren can take some ease in knowing that the man he helped throughout the campaign process will be coming in after him.

"I'm like a parent, I see [Epp] vying for the job and stepping up to the plate and I want him to succeed," he said.

Van Kesteren also notes that Epp's connection to the agricultural sector will be a major asset when representing the community.

"I've gotten to know him probably better in the past week than I have in all of the other previous weeks and the more I get to spend time with [Epp], the more I am impressed with him," said Van Kesteren. "He can really bring so much to the table."

In the meantime, Epp said he considers himself fortunate to have learned from Van Kesteren.

"He has been a model of exemplary constituency service," said Epp. "He has shared with me the joy of representing these residents and he shared with me some of the challenges. I am very fortunate to have that experience and I think that helped me as well in this campaign."

Epp along with other elected candidates will be sworn in as Members of Parliament at a later date.

-With files from Allanah Wills

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