Editor's note: Updated with preliminary election results current as of 9 a.m. this morning.
Linda Larson of BC Liberals has taken the Boundary-Similkameen and will be the riding’s new MLA.
Larson received 7,853 preliminary election votes out of 16,947 and took 46.34 per cent of the popular vote.
Larson became the BC Liberal candidate earlier in the year, after it was announced that former MLA John Slater would not be seeking re-election.
“It so difficult because months ago, we started, I would say, behind considerably. With one thing or another, this riding had some real upheaval and we started with nothing and with a small team of volunteers to begin with, we were able to make contact and I can’t nail down one particular reason why we did as well as we have, other than the fact that I did make an effort to be in every riding more than once,” Larson told the Gazette.
When asked what issues were at the top of her agenda, Larson said it was hard to pick one as every area she visited had concerns, however she did say that she is aware of some concerns in the Grand Forks area.
“I’ve got quite a lot from the Grand Forks area. Certainly by talking to people there are a couple of really good documents that have been put together on rural British Columbia, and lots of people in the Grand Forks and Christina Lake area that were involved in those,” Larson said. “I spoke to the people who are looking at the community forest and woodlots and there seems to be some potential there, provided that they can get some of the regulations shifted in their direction. I’m hopeful there is something I can move forward for everybody,” she said.
BC NDP's Sam Hancheroff, like Larson, came onto the scene late and took 6,656 total votes, or 39.28 per cent of the popular vote, as of press time.
Hancheroff conceded to Larson late Tuesday night and said it was a learning experience.
“I’d like to thank all the people who took the time to listen to me and talk to me throughout the month of the campaign,” Hancheroff said. “I felt there were a lot of important things I learned from this scenario from talking to people.”
“I felt I did the best I possibly could with the folks that I work with. They did a fantastic job,” he said.
John Kwasnica of the Green Party of BC received 1,481 total votes as of press time (8.74 per cent of popular vote) while Independents Mischa Popoff received 608 votes (3.59 per cent) and Doug Pederson received 349 (2.06 per cent).
Final voting results will not be available until after the conclusion of the final count, which begins on May 27 according to Elections BC.