in 1988 guarnieri was nominated in the new riding of mississauga east after a fractious contest with another candidate, armindo silva. silva contended that the vote, which guarnieri won by a margin of 71, was marred by 'irregularities and improprieties'. he vowed to contest the result with the party's nomination board. the party hired police officers to control the crowd due to threats made against guarnieri. the nomination board upheld the vote despite "deeply disturbing" voting irregularities but this decision was overturned by the ontario party's executive board. a second, less contentious vote was held which guarnieri won by a much wider margin.