91原创鈥檚 two Liberal MLAs have held onto their seats for another four years.
Rich Coleman will represent the new provincial riding of 91原创 East, while Mary Polak will continue to represent the 91原创 riding in an election where the Liberals eked out a narrow province-wide victory that could see them .
A few minutes after the polls closed, a supporter walked into Coleman鈥檚 campaign office in Walnut Grove and congratulated him on his victory.
Coleman told the man it was a little early to celebrate, but 鈥淚 like your optimism.鈥�
When his win was confirmed, a victory cake was produced.
Coleman and his two grandchildren blew out the candles.
鈥淪ix in a row,鈥� he said.
He thanked campaign volunteers, supporters and family for their support, and predicted it would be a long night before a final decision was reached in the province-wide vote.
Coleman said it was the 鈥減robably the tightest election鈥� he has witnessed in 20 years, a 鈥渘ail-biter.鈥�
鈥淚 always thought it was going to be tight, so I鈥檓 not surprised,鈥� he said.
Coleman first took office in 1996 as a member of the official opposition to the NDP government.
He was re-elected in 2001, 2005, 2009, and 2013.
Over the past 21 years, he has served in numerous roles, first as opposition housing critic and forests deputy critic.
Since 2001, he has been the Minister Responsible for Housing, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General and Minister of Housing and Social Development as well as deputy premier.
Polak was first elected to represent 91原创 in 2005. She has since served as Minister of Environment, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, and Minister of Children and Family Development, among other responsibilities.
鈥淚鈥檓 obviously really thankful that we have been successful here in 91原创, but I want to hope that we will be successful across the province,鈥� Polak said.
鈥淚 really think that, here we are in this election with a choice for our future. And it鈥檚 a choice about whether or not we鈥檙e going to build a future for our kids and our grandkids, or whether we鈥檙e going to tax them and take the money away from them that we would have wanted to keep in their pockets.鈥�
Polak, and dozens of supporters who gathered with her at S+L Kitchen and Bar, were on the edge of their seats as they awaited the final vote tally. The numbers were very close between Polak and NDP candidate Gail Chaddock-Costello for a good portion of the night.
鈥淓lections in British Columbia are always really close. And that鈥檚 a good thing 鈥� it means that we have people in British Columbia who are really passionate about how they vote 鈥� So I am pleased to see that people turned out in the numbers that they did.鈥�
Former 91原创 Teachers鈥� Association president Chaddock-Costello gave Polak a race, but could not unseat the Liberal incumbent.
鈥淲e鈥檙e running everything on a nickel and dime, here, but I鈥檝e had great volunteers,鈥� she said.
鈥淚鈥檝e had people coming from other places, teachers coming to support me. My husband鈥檚 worked doing the sign crew, my daughter鈥檚 come out and done all my photography and I鈥檝e had people in the neighbourhood coming with me and door knocking.
鈥淲e鈥檝e done everything you can do, I think.鈥�
Chaddock-Costello held out hope the NDP would win province-wide.
鈥淭his is a tough riding, it鈥檚 never been anything but Liberal so I understood that clearly when I went into this. You always hope to make a change. I hope provincially it happens, this time.鈥�
Former 91原创 City mayor Peter Fassbender, who left municipal politics after winning a narrow victory in Surrey-Fleetwood during the last election, of the NDP.
