Anderson on top in Airdrie
Airdrie’s incumbent Rob Anderson is anxious to get back to work in the legislature, but said he’s going to take a few days to breathe after an “exhausting and hard-fought” election campaign.
Although the results from Airdrie were still trickling in at press time Anderson, the Wildrose candidate, appeared headed for a decisive win.
“We’re going to breathe, enjoy the victory a little and then get back to work when Premier (Alison) Redford calls us back,” Anderson said Monday night as results trickled in for his riding and the Tories appeared poised to form government again.
“We ran a good campaign in Airdrie, but I am really proud of what we did across the province,” he said. “We sent a very strong message.”
Progressive Conservative candidate Kelly Hegg, who was running in a provincial election for the first time, said he and his supporters poured their hearts and souls into the campaign.
“We’re on the outside looking in but the voters of Airdrie have made that decision and I am good with that,” said Hegg, who was on his way to meet with Anderson and concede.
“They obviously appreciated the work that Rob has done and they rewarded him with a victory,” said Hegg, who spent the hour prior to the polls closing waving his party’s orange and blue colours at motorists driving along Highway 2. Some honked their horns. “Some did other things, too,” joked Hegg.
This was Anderson’s first time running as a Wildrose candidate after crossing the floor from the PCS in 2010.
The city of 41,539 faces a several issues, including access to health-care facilities and school shortages.
Five candidates ran, including Joel Steacy for the Liberals, Jeff Willerton as an Independent and Bryan Young for the New Democrat Party.