MAKOWSKY WINS ELECTION SEAT

REGINA — Gene Makowsky wasn't ready to contemplate his future with the Saskatchewan Roughriders after capturing the Regina-Dewdney riding in Monday's provincial election landslide by the Saskatchewan Party.

Makowsky defeated NDP incumbent Kevin Yates 4,373-2,537. Makowsky, 38, wrapped up his 17th season with the Roughriders in Friday's 23-20 loss to the Edmonton Eskimos and was elected to the legislature three days later.

"I haven't given it a whole lot of thought because the season just ended,'' Makowsky said Monday while taking in the jubilant atmosphere in his Broad Street constituency office. "We'll let things sink in, settle down, and see where we are in the near future. I just want to enjoy this because it's a pretty humbling experience to have people put their trust in me.''

Makowsky declared his intention to run for the Saskatchewan Party on Dec. 1. He re-signed with the Riders on Jan. 18 and juggled football while campaigning for political office. In 2011, Makowsky dressed for all 18 regular-season games and assumed the Riders' lead in all-time games played, with 285. He conducted his successful political campaign after the team's daily practice sessions.

"My (political) team worked so hard behind me and I had a lot of great help,'' Makowsky said.

Don McMorris, who won the Indian Head-Milestone riding on Monday, welcomed Makowsky to the Saskatchewan Party team.

"Gene has been a solid person in this province through his college days in Saskatoon to being in Regina as a Roughrider,'' McMorris said. "He's also joining a team, which is what he is all about. I'm really looking forward to having him join our team, especially on those caucus retreats when we have our football games. I'm picking him first.''

McMorris felt it could be possible for Makowsky to juggle professional football and being a member of the legislature.

"As a backbencher, he could work it for a year, but that is really up to Gene,'' McMorris said. "That's his time commitment. He has to balance constituency needs with football needs and, most importantly that I found out early on, family needs. One thing that would be nice for Gene is on every game day he could see half of his constituents.''

Makowsky appeared in Grey Cups with the Roughriders in 1997, 2007, 2009 and 2010, winning it all in 2007. He said Monday that winning a seat in his first attempt was different than winning the 2007 Grey Cup game.

"In football, I had been playing since I was 14,'' Makowsky said. "I was in my 13th year in the pros when I finally won. If I had been in 13 election campaigns it would be comparable. I'm a rookie at this and it's nice to win in your rookie season.''

Many of Makowsky's current and former teammates posted Tweets on Twitter congratulating him on Monday's victory.

"It's great that my teammates and former teammates are behind me,'' Makowsky said. "It hasn't quite sunk in yet . . . I guess I report to work (today).''

The Roughriders selected Makowsky in the second round (23rd) overall of the 1995 CFL draft out of the University of Saskatchewan. He was named the CFL'S most outstanding linemen in 2004 and 2005. He is a five-time CFL all-star and a seven-time West Division all-star.