Progressive Conservative member of the House of Assembly (MHA) Harvey Hodder opted to not to run for re-election in the 2007 Newfoundland and Labrador general election. Kent announced his intentions to seek the PC nomination in the new district of Mount Pearl North. On June 19, 2007, he was elected as the Progressive Conservative candidate for the provincial election, taking 1,151 of 1,352 votes, over the only other contestant, Keith Cassell. In the subsequent general election, he was elected MHA for the electoral district of Mount Pearl North with 85% of the popular vote in the October 9, 2007, provincial election. On October 30, 2007, he resigned as Mayor of Mount Pearl in order to be sworn in as MHA.