Quick Facts
Biography
Graham Letto is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador in the 2015 election. He represents the district of Labrador West as a member of the Newfoundland and Labrador Liberal Party.
Prior to his election to the legislature, Letto served as mayor of Labrador City, Newfoundland and Labrador from 2005 until 2009.
Background
He was born in Forteau and grew up in L'Anse-au-Clair.
Political career
In 1989, Letto sought election to the town council of Labrador City, and was elected. He was also re-elected to council in 1993 and 1997. Then in 2001, Letto was elected as mayor of Labrador City. During the Newfoundland and Labrador general election, 2003, he ran in the provincial riding of Labrador West as the Progressive Conservative candidate, but was defeated by Randy Collins of the NDP.
On May 24, 2005, Letto ran for the Conservative Party of Canada in the Labrador riding in a by-election. Letto lost, but increased the Conservative vote in the traditional Liberal riding substantially.
On September 27, 2005, Letto was re-elected mayor of Labrador City in the 2005 municipal election. He did not seek a third term during the 2009 municipal elections, and was succeeded by Janice Barnes.
Letto received a Federation of Canadian Municipalities Roll of Honour Award in June 2014.
In August 2015, Letto was nominated as the Liberal candidate in Labrador West for the 2015 provincial election. On November 30, 2015, Letto won the seat, defeating New Democrat and former Wabush Mayor Ron Barron and Progressive Conservative incumbent Nick McGrath.
Electoral record
Provincial
| Newfoundland and Labrador general election, 2003 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ∆% | ||||
| New Democratic | Randy Collins | 2,762 | 55.71 | +7.88 | ||||
| Progressive Conservative | Graham Letto | 1,142 | 23.03 | +15.93 | ||||
| Labrador Party | Ern Condon | 631 | 12.73 | – | ||||
| Liberal | Doris Sacrey | 423 | 8.53 | -36.54 | ||||
| Total valid votes | 4,958 | 99.72 | ||||||
| New Democratic hold | Swing | +22.21 | ||||||
| Source: Newfoundland & Labrador 2003 | ||||||||
Federal
| Canadian federal by-election, May 24, 2005: Labrador | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ∆% | Expenditures | |||
| Liberal | Todd Russell | 5,438 | 51.48 | -10.75 | $53,970.30 | |||
| Conservative | Graham Letto | 3,415 | 32.33 | +16.56 | $73,509.62 | |||
| New Democratic | Frances Fry | 1,045 | 9.89 | +0.25 | $26,121.42 | |||
| Independent | Ern Condon | 598 | 5.66 | -4.69 | $254.00 | |||
| Green | Jason Crummey | 68 | 0.64 | -1.37 | $78.45 | |||
| Total valid votes/Expense limit | 10,564 | 100.0 | – | $74,995 | ||||
| Total rejected, declined and unmarked ballots | 58 | 0.55 | +0.03 | |||||
| Turnout | 10,622 | 53.44 | +8.62 | |||||
| Eligible voters | 19,876 | |||||||
| Liberal hold | Swing | -13.6 | ||||||
| Called on the death of Lawrence O'Brien, 16 December 2004 | ||||||||