MPP Tim Hudak (Niagara West-Glanbrook) is narrowly leading after the first ballot in the Progressive Conservative leadership contest in Markham.

Hudak, 41, finished with 3,511 of 10,348 electoral votes cast from 107 ridings and maverick MPP Randy Hillier, 51, (Lanark-Frontenac-Lennox and Addington), who was fourth, has been eliminated from the next ballot, which will be announced around 2 p.m.

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Progressive Conservatives believe their journey back to power begins today in Markham when they determine a new leader to succeed John Tory.

After two ignominious defeats in six years to Premier Dalton McGuinty’s Liberals, the Conservatives hope their right-wing saviour – and all four candidates are right of the centrist Tory on the political spectrum – will lead them to victory in 2011.

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