4 Tory cabinet ministers fall to defeat in Liberal rout

Four incumbent PC cabinet ministers went down to defeat in Monday's election, while three others managed to hang on totheir seats.

Sandy Collins, Derrick Dalley, Dan Crummell and Keith Russell were booted out of the House of Assembly.

Meanwhile, successfulincumbentsSteve Kent, David Brazil, and KeithHutchingswill have to learn to sit as opposition members.

The Progressive Conservatives won only seven seats in the provincial election, with the Liberals gaining a landslide 31. The NDP picked up the other two seats.

Collins,who was minister of Child, Youth and Family Services,narrowly lost to political newcomer Colin Hollowayby 54 votes in Terra Nova.

Natural Resources MinisterDerrick Dalley also lost by a narrow margin, 79 votes,to Liberal newcomerDerek Bennett.

Environment and Conservation Minister Dan Crummell came third in his district of St. John's West, behind formerLiberal MP Siobhan Coady and NDP Leader Earle McCurdy. Crummellwas alsominister of Service NL.

Minister of Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs Keith Russell lost his Lake Melvilleseat by a wide margin to scientist Perry Trimper.

Winners included Transportation and Works MinisterDavid Brazil,who polledmore than 59 per cent of the vote in Conception Bay East-Bell Island, defeating Liberal Danny Dumaresque by 1,881 votes.

Minister of Municipal and Intergovernmental AffairsKeith Hutchings won Ferryland by 102 votes over Jeff Marshall.

In one of the most-watched districts of the night, Health MinisterSteve Kent won his seat against Mount Pearl Mayor Randy Simms by 264 votes.