Kelowna byelection win gives Clark a seat in legislature
Becomes third premier to represent Okanagan city
KELOWNA — Premier Christy Clark will have a seat once again in British Columbia’s legislature, after she cruised to a commanding victory in Wednesday’s byelection in the riding of Westside- Kelowna.
Clark took more than 62 per cent of the vote, compared to less than 30 per cent for her closest rival, New Democrat Carole Gordon.
The premier took over 10,600 votes of the more than 17,000 ballots cast.
At a victory party in Kelowna, Clark thanked those who voted for her and promised to take her constituents concerns, hopes and advice back to the legislature with her.
“You’re coming with me. I am taking the heart, the dreams and the wishes of the people of Westside- Kelowna to Victoria, to work on things together, things that will make this incredible place we’re so blessed to live in even better.”
Clark was largely credited with engineering the surprising come- frombehind Liberal win in May’s provincial election, but she lost her own seat in her Vancouver- Point Grey riding.
Her determined and charismatic campaign style propelled the Liberals to a fourth consecutive mandate, even though pollsters predicted an Opposition New Democrat win.
Former Westside- Kelowna Liberal MLA Ben Stewart stepped aside weeks after the May election, paving the way for Clark to run in the Okanagan city, where two former premiers, W. A. C. Bennett and Bill Bennett were also elected.
Clark called Stewart up to the podium, held his hand and spent several minutes thanking him for helping her to victory.
“Ben Stewart is a man who has delivered for this community and I can tell you that I have never, ever ... seen anybody work as hard as Ben Stewart.”
Two Kelowna- area Liberal MLAs were also celebrating at Clark’s victory party.
“Thank goodness it’s done,” said Kelowna- Lake Country MLA Norm Letnick about the overload of political campaigning Clark and the Liberals have participated in recently.
“It’s time for us to move forward with our new premier and our new MLA. Now she’s going to lead from the floor of the legislature.”
Kelowna- Mission MLA Steve Thomson said Clark’s return to the legislature adds to the profile of the Okanagan.
“She’s got a passion for the province,” said the Forests Minister. “She’s got a passion for this area.”
Earlier Wednesday, Clark said voters in the riding were telling her she would be getting their votes because she guided the Liberals to victory two months ago.
Gordon and B. C. Conservative Party candidate Sean Upshaw were two of seven other candidates challenging Clark for the seat.
Gordon emphasized during the almost month- long campaign that Clark was an outsider, compared to her own four decades in the community.