MARTENSVILLE, Sask. - The daughter of a Saskatchewan politician who lost his fight with cancer will fill her father's place in the provincial legislature.
Nancy Heppner managed to hold her father Ben's seat for the Opposition Saskatchewan Party, winning a provincial byelection Monday night in the constituency of Martensville, north of Saskatoon.
The 35-year-old communications consultant bested New Democrat John Tzupa, Liberal Nathan Friesen and four other candidates en route to the win.
The result was an expected one.
Her father won the seat in 2003 with more than 50 per cent of the vote. The NDP was second with 27 per cent and the Liberals were third with 17 per cent.
The result doesn't affect the status of the governing NDP's majority.
The New Democrats hold 30 of the 58 seats in the legislature compared to the Saskatchewan Party's 28. The Liberals don't hold any seats.
Heppner's most recent job was with the federal Conservatives in Ottawa, where she was director of communications for the Minister of Canadian Heritage.
She had also worked in Ottawa as question period co-ordinator for Stephen Harper when he was the Opposition leader.
Heppner's win comes two days before politicians reconvene for what could be the final sitting of the legislature before a general election widely expected this fall.
