Gracious in defeat PAGE A3
shimmy mob storms market PAGE A12
junior golfers tee off PAGE A18
OBSERVER QUESNEL - CARIBOO
SINCE 1908
Friday, May 17, 2013
VOL. 99 NO. 74
www.quesnelobserver.com
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Liberal candidate Coralee Oakes was surrounded by family and supporters as the numbers confirmed her successful bid for MLA for Cariboo North. Annie Gallant photo
Liberal candidate Coralee Oakes wins MLA seat for Cariboo North ANNIE GALLANT Observer Reporter
As polls closed across the province and numbers started to roll in, the Liberals took an early lead and never gave it up. Cariboo North saw incumbent Bob Simpson and first-time Liberal candidate Coralee Oakes running neck and neck with NDP’s Duncan Barnett remaining in third place. By approximately 9 p.m. it was evident Oakes was pulling away from Simpson. By about 9:30 p.m. Oakes supporters marched into the room
energetically waving campaign signs followed by a jubilant Oakes whose journey to the stage was slowed with frequent stops to embrace supporters and well-wishers. The mood in the room was triumphant. “This campaign has been the greatest experience of my life so far,� Oakes said to thunderous applause. “I want to congratulate Bob and Duncan for an outstanding job in this campaign.� She went on to say she’d been worried about the campaign but happily re-
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ported it was an amazing journey. “Bob has been an outstanding representative for this riding for the past eight years,� Oakes said. She assured the crowd she was ready for the challenges ahead. Simpson had agreed prior to the election to assist Oakes in her transition to MLA for Cariboo North should she win. “The fact he’s offered to support me in transition just speaks volumes for who Bob is,� she said. As for Simpson, he was gracious in his
concession speech. He told his team of well-wishers they should be “celebrating the outcome,� adding most political pundits did not predict his numbers. Simpson lost the election by just over 500 votes and garnered a 37.28 per cent share of the riding votes. “We ran a no regrets campaign,� he said. “We gave voters a different option.� Simpson thanked his team for their hard work and dedication and ended his concession speech with a heartfelt nod to his
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supportive family. “My mom said ‘go home, get a good sleep and wake up a free man.’� His final message met cheers: “Stay engaged,� he said firmly. “Stay engaged.� With the fewest votes in the riding, NDP candidate Duncan Barnett addressed his supporters with confidence saying they ran a positive campaign, “I’m proud of that, that’s the right thing to do.� He added they raised some issues facing the Cariboo which now fall to MLA Coralee
Oakes to address. Barnett thanked his team and all those who supported him. “I learned a lot and I hope you did too,� he said. Barnett secured 21.46 per cent of the voters support. After Oakes was declared the winner, Barnett made his way to her campaign celebration to wish her well on her win. Simpson phoned Oakes and reminded her of his offer to assist in her transition to her new job as Liberal MLA for Cariboo North.
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