# Derek Wells

Derek M. Wells KC (born 28 November 1946) is a former Canadian politician who served as the Liberal member of Parliament for the riding of South Shore from 1993 to 1997.

## Early life and education

Born in Corner Brook, Newfoundland, Wells graduated from Dalhousie Law School in 1972.

## Political career

Wells won the South Shore electoral district for the Liberal party in the 1993 federal election. After serving in the 35th Canadian Parliament, Wells was defeated in the 1997 federal election. He unsuccessfully attempted to return to Parliament in the 2000 federal election.
Wells also served as President of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party. He is a partner at Hennigar, Wells, Lamey and Baker in Chester.
Wells announced in September 2009 that he would seek the Liberal Party nomination for South Shore—St. Margaret's in the 2011 federal election. He won the nomination on 4 October. He finished third receiving 17% of the vote.
Wells is the current District 3 municipal councillor in Chester Municipality. He was elected in 2021 during a by-election after the seat was vacated by current Progressive Conservative MLA Danielle Barkhouse.

## Electoral record
### 2021 Chester Municipal By-Election

2021 Chester Municipal By-Election District 3 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | Percent | |
| No Affiliation | Derek Wells | 461 | 63.67% | ✓ |
| No Affiliation | Jo-Ann Grant | 164 | 22.65% | |
| No Affiliation | Annette Collicut | 99 | 13.67% | |
Nova Scotian Municipal politics do not have party affiliations.

### 2011 federal election

2011 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Conservative | Gerald Keddy | 17,948 | 43.14 | +7.15 | $65,637.06 |
| | New Democratic | Gordon Earle | 15,033 | 36.14 | +2.79 | $79,480.73 |
| | Liberal | Derek Wells | 7,037 | 16.92 | -6.93 | $57,461.22 |
| | Green | Kris MacLellan | 1,579 | 3.80 | -1.43 | $41.21 |
| Total valid votes/Expense limit | Total valid votes/Expense limit | Total valid votes/Expense limit | 41,597 | 100.0 | | $86,455.81 |
| Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots | Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots | Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots | 282 | 0.67 | +0.20 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 41,879 | 62.23 | +2.03 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 67,296 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | Swing | +2.18 |
| Sources: |||||||

### 1997 federal election

1997 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Gerald Keddy | 14,136 | 36.00 | +3.38 |
| | Liberal | Derek Wells | 11,397 | 29.02 | -17.92 |
| | New Democratic | Blandford Nickerson | 8,137 | 20.72 | +15.72 |
| | Reform | Anne Matthiasson | 5,302 | 13.50 | -0.02 |
| | Natural Law | Terry Harnish | 298 | 0.76 | -0.02 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 39,270 | 100.00 |

### 1993 federal election

1993 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Derek Wells | 17,351 | 46.94 | +4.37 |
| | Progressive Conservative | Peter McCreath | 12,058 | 32.62 | -13.84 |
| | Reform | Anne Matthiasson | 4,999 | 13.52 | |
| | New Democratic | Eric Hustvedt | 1,847 | 5.00 | -5.15 |
| | National | A. James Donahue | 422 | 1.14 | |
| | Natural Law | Richard Robertson | 287 | 0.78 | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 36,964 | 100.00 |