Voters in Powell River-Sunshine Coast stayed the course Tuesday night sending Nicholas Simons back to Victoria for four more years.
The incumbent New Democrat MLA easily secured the win with a healthy 5,000-plus-vote advantage over Liberal candidate Dawn Miller.
Lower Mainland news outlets declared Simons victorious at 8:55 p.m. and cheers and applause rang out inside the Sechelt Indian Band (SIB) hall where Simons' supporters gathered to toast his victory.
Simons garnered 12,293 votes compared to 7,265 votes for Miller. Green Party candidate Jeff Chilton finished a distant third with 1,287 votes followed by B.C. Refederation Party candidate Allen McIntyre with a mere 236 votes.
The Liberals claimed a majority victory in the province securing 49 seats compared to 36 for the NDP in the newly-configured 85-seat legislature. The new government will be sworn-in in early June.
Simons was clearly happy with his win when he arrived at the SIB hall shortly after 9:30 p.m. He thanked his supporters both on the Lower Coast and in Powell River for running an amazing, albeit an "interesting" 28-day campaign. He also acknowledged the Sechelt Nation for their support and for allowing their victory celebration to be held on their traditional territory.
"It's a bittersweet night, but Powell River-Sunshine Coast is the best riding to represent in the province," said Simons. "I'm a bit tired, but I'm excited. I'd like to acknowledge my opponents for putting their names forward in what is a challenging job - a job that I'm honoured to do again for the people of this constituency. It's a bittersweet night because the province has chosen, through a democratic process, another four years of a government who I strongly disagree with on so many aspects of their policies and fundamentally on some of their values that they base their policies on, but what tonight represents for us is an opportunity to remember that we are surrounded by friends. We have a lot of work to do, but we can do it together.
"We're not going to sit back and watch the province be sold off. We're not going to let the province be turned into a place where those who have a lot continue to get more, and those that don't continue to get left behind. It's our responsibility ladies and gentlemen to make sure that the policies of government represent the interests of the people and it's the public interest we are here to protect and we will do that."
Simons said the time for dirty politics is over, that too much is at stake for the future of the province and he will help to ensure everyone's voices and interests are heard.
"We can hold out hope that the people of British Columbia will hold the government to account through us, the elected opposition," said Simons. "With Carole James and all of my colleagues, we will hold this government to account. Please stay in touch with me - I need all of you at my back so I can do that effectively. I will do my best to continue to represent you all with the strength and determination that I have found with your support the last four years and I thank you for your support for the next four."
Before Simons arrived at the hall, SIB Chief Garry Feschuk welcomed everyone to their community and offered congratulations to Simons.
"Nicholas and our Nation go back many years. Before he chose to enter into politics, Nicholas worked for our community as our director of health and social development," said Feschuk. "I say this knowing what a great job he did for our community it does not surprise me with the great job he has done for the Sunshine Coast. He will be an asset to the Sunshine Coast again and I look forward to the next four years."
The atmosphere was one of a lost battle, but a won war at Miller's campaign headquarters on Cowrie Street.
"We're feeling really good. I know that might surprise you, but we ran a really good campaign and the team really pulled together really well and we believe we offered the voters in Powell River-Sunshine Coast a real alternative," said Miller. "I feel really good about the campaign and that we gave them a real choice. It's been a wonderful learning experience. I've gotten to know people from one end of the Coast to the other and that's a gift."
Miller said one of the biggest obstacles her campaign had to deal with was that she was an unknown candidate.
"We really had a lot of work to do to become known, for me as a person and for people to understand what I stand for, so it's a bit of an up-hill battle," said Miller. "My supporters asked me to make a commitment to run again in four years and I have."
Miller said it was too soon to say just what issues she would be looking to get involved with between now and the 2013 election, but did say she was interested in restorative justice and affordable housing.
"We can disagree on issues. We can disagree on policy, but we were respectful of each other," said Miller referring to the campaign. "I thought we were very civilized with each other. A lot of people had said to me, as I declared my nomination, that they really hoped we would run a campaign that was respectful and I think we both did that and should be congratulated for that.
"We're really proud of the premier, the team, the campaign and the results are really showing that British Columbia did see the need for leadership and did see the need to stay the course and keep B.C. strong."
Voter turnout in the province was 51 per cent overall, but the Island/Sunshine Coast region had the highest voter turnout with 55 per cent. The Lower Mainland came in with 49 per cent, with the Interior/North at 52 per cent.
- With files from Brent Richter
