Pandamonium: Wildrose takes Foothills byelection
Posted Sep 3, 2015 11:47 pm.
Last Updated Sep 4, 2015 8:02 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Calgary voters sent a message to the current and former governments Thursday night, giving the Wildrose Party a riding which has been a PC stronghold for over four decades.
The official opposition won the Calgary-Foothills byelection with candidate Prasad Panda taking 38 per cent of the vote, unofficially as of 11 p.m.
“I’m so happy to have won tonight,” Panda said. “We took our message, which was about jobs to everyone in Foothills, that was a very key message, and Calgary’s worried about jobs and the premier needs to understand that.”
The NDP’s Bob Hawkesworth came in second place with 26 per cent, followed by the PCs Blair Houston with 22. It marks yet another riding lost for the Progressive Conservatives, which have held the northwest seat since 1971.
It went up for grabs following the general election when former premier Jim Prentice resigned after the NDP’s historic victory.
Wildrose Leader Brian Jean was on hand to introduce Panda as the party’s now 22nd MLA and called it a significant loss to the Tories.
“I don’t think they’ve ever placed under 40 per cent in this riding ever, it’s the strongest riding they have in Alberta and they’ve lost it,” Jean said. “I think it clearly indicates where Albertans are going.”
Jean said Panda’s understanding of the energy sector – as a former oilpatch executive – will be vital to the party in the future and he said a message has also been sent to Premier Rachel Notley.
“What is abundantly clear is that Albertans do not stand behind the NDP’s risky agenda for the economy,” he told the crowd. Total voter turnout was just under 40 per cent.
Hawkesworth stayed optimistic in his concession speech, pointing out the Oct. 27 byelection including the same riding only gave the NDP five per cent.
“At least we were contenders and we came close,” he said. “My reply, even knowing the results tonight, is that this day I shall cherish for the rest of my life, thank you for the bottom of my heart.”
For full unofficial poll results, click here.
