Tory veteran Woo-paw scales Northern Hills
The fierce battle between Wildrose and Progressive Conservative for the new riding of Calgary-northern Hills ended with a win by PC candidate Teresa Woo-paw on Monday night.
“I’m very grateful for the faith and support of the constituents and all my supporters,” said Woo-paw, 53, the incumbent Conservative MLA for the riding previously known as Calgary-Mackay.
Woo-paw, who was elected in 2008, clung to her seat with about 4,500 votes, nearly 50 per cent of votes, as Wildrose candidate Prasad Panda threatened to close in on her with almost 3,400 votes, or almost 37 per cent, as the votes were tallied.
“I appreciate the opportunity to serve over the last four years, and I’m really looking forward to working with the people in this riding,” she said.
On Woo-paw’s agenda, she said she will be continuing development plans for a multipurpose centre for her riding, which she said have been in the works for the past three years.
Calgary-northern Hills is a new riding, created in 2010, that is etched out of the previous riding known as CalgaryMackay.
While in office, Woo-paw has served as parliamentary assistant to Dave Hancock, the minister of employment and immigration. She also chaired Alberta’s Youth Secretariat, a branch of ministry of children’s services which works to address issues affecting youth at risk.
Wildrose candidate Panda could not be reached for comment before deadline.
The 48-year-old political newcomer for the Wildrose party is a manager of supply chain management for Suncor Energy.
Also running in the riding was Alberta NDP candidate Stephanie Westlund, and Kirstin Morrell of the Liberal party.