After quitting her government job to run for the Progressive Conservatives in last month's provincial election, Sheila Fitzgerald has been hired back on.

Fitzgerald spent 21 years with the Department of Children, Seniors and Social Development, in the area of child protection services, before leaving her post to run against Liberal incumbent Christopher Mitchelmore.

The Tory candidate for St. Barbe-L'Anse aux Meadows requested leave from her government job to run in the election, but was turned down. Fitzgerald said her request was denied because her job included authority over discretionary spending.

Fitzgerald tweeted on Friday that she would be back to work the following week.

Great news! I’m back to work next week! Thank you to the Dept Children, Seniors and Social Development and <a href="https://twitter.com/LisaVDempster?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LisaVDempster</a> for hiring me back! —@SheilaDFitz

She lost to Liberal incumbent Mitchelmore, who was re-elected May 16.

Fitzgerald, who has been the mayor of Roddickton-Bide Arm for six years, said she's taking a step back from provincial politics, but isn't ruling out another run in the future.

For the time being, Fitzgerald said she's getting ready to step into the role of president of Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador.

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