The Chilliwack
Progress Thursday
3
23
News
Scene
37
Sports
Student
Music
Fitness
Chiliwack Students cast their ballots.
A Night in Vienna for aural celebration.
Life changing challenge for Chilliwack woman.
Y O U R C O M M U N I T Y N E W S PA P E R • F O U N D E D I N 1 8 9 1 • W W W. T H E P R O G R E S S . C O M • T H U R S D AY, M AY 1 6 , 2 0 1 3
Martin, Throness join B.C. Liberal majority Staff Writer The Progress
B.C. Liberal candidates in Chilliwack will be part of a majority government in Victoria, after joining a stunning upset win over the B.C. NDP Tuesday night. John Martin cruised to an easy victory in the riding of Chilliwack, while Laurie Throness won in Chilliwack-Hope. They will join a majority Liberal government — something few pundits were expecting before the polls closed Tuesday evening. Said Martin: “Did we kick some left-wing socialist butt tonight or what?” The race was tightest in Chilliwack–Hope — a riding that the NDP only won in a byelection last year. But despite an early lead, incumbent Gwen O’Mahony finished nearly 15 per cent behind Throness, capturing only 6,884 of the votes cast, compared to Throness’ 9,533. For O’Mahony, the sting of the loss was evident. As supporters watched hopes of a majority NDP government fade, she reflected on her loss. “We respect what the electorvideo-online] ate had to say and who they www.theprogress.com wanted to represent them. So, I congratulate Laurie Throness,” said O’Mahony. “This was a difficult place to be in. Over the year of being MLA, people talked as if I was going to be around forever. As a politician you have the face that fact that you might lose.” She said she’s proud of what they’ve accomplished. “We had such wonderful goals if we had formed government that I think they are still very important. Now is not the time to feel badly,” said O’Mahony. The mood at the Liberal headquarters was decidedly different. “I feel humbled that Chilliwack-Hope has placed its confidence in me and I will not disappoint them,” said a beaming Throness. “It’s a humbling and very proudful experience for me.” In Chilliwack, the gap was wider. Martin garnered 48 per cent of the vote, easily outdistancing by 20 per cent Patti MacAhonic of the NDP.
3-13H CS7
JENNA HAUCK/ PROGRESS
Christy Clark defies polls, wins majority Tom Fletcher Black Press
B.C. Liberal leader Christy Clark pulled an upset win Tuesday, defying the polls and pundits who started the evening talking about her exit strategy after a loss. Early results gave Clark’s B.C. Liberals 50 seats, with 33 for the NDP. Clark took an early lead in poll results Tuesday night, with veterans Mike de Jong, Rich
E E FR Continued: NDP/ p3
Retail 85¢ PLUS PST Box $1.00
John Martin, MLA-elect for Chilliwack, arrives with Laurie Throness at their victory party at the Best Western on Tuesday.
Coleman, Terry Lake and Linda Reid retaining their seats. B.C. Conservative leader John Cummins lost to B.C. Liberal Mary Polak in Langley. Cummins said he will stay on as leader. Clark lost the contest for her own constituency of VancouverPoint Grey, losing to the NDP’s David Eby, who came close to winning in Clark’s by-election two years ago. (See related story, page 6.) B.C. Green Party candidate
Andrew Weaver made a breakthrough in Oak Bay-Gordon Head, winning the first seat for the Green Party. A high-profile climate scientist, Weaver benefited from the same highly concentrated campaign effort that produced a seat for national Green leader Elizabeth May. Vicki Huntingon won reelection in Delta South, a landmark for an independent to win twice without party affiliation. Independents Bob Simpson in Cariboo North and John van
Dongen in Abbotsford South, fell to their B.C. Liberal challengers. “Just like Alberta, the voters got to the ballot box and chickened out,” said one observer on Twitter. The result shocked observers, who had been expecting an NDP majority. “The Liberals came in with a better plan for managing the economy,” said Jordan Bateman, B.C. director of the Canadian Taxpayers’ Federation.
SECURITY SYSTEMS! *with monitoring contract
604.792.8055 ~ www.contactsecurity.com