Harrington ran for the Ontario legislature in the
1987 provincial election, and finished second against
Liberal Vince Kerrio in the riding of
Niagara Falls. She lost by 5,664 votes. Three years later, in the
1990 provincial election, she defeated Liberal candidate Wayne Campbell by almost 6,000 votes in the same riding. The NDP won a majority government and Harrington was appointed as
parliamentary assistant to the
Minister of Housing from 1990 to 1993. She was then appointed as a Deputy
Speaker. Shortly after the election, Harrington was accused of improprieties on voting day. She admitted to improperly adding two names to the voter's list. She claimed that she was mistaken about the rules for adding names to the list. The Ontario Elections Act states that people may be added to the voting list on a provincial election day only in rural polling divisions, not urban ones like Niagara Falls. Warren Bailie, Chief Election Officer ruled that no further action was required since Harrington won the election by more than two votes. In 1993 she came out against the government's proposal to build a casino in Niagara Falls but reversed her position a year later when she supported the plan. The NDP were defeated in the
1995 provincial election, and Harrington finished third against
Progressive Conservative Bart Maves in her bid for re-election. When
Bob Rae stepped down as party leader she supported
Tony Silipo for leader of the party.
Electoral record ==References==