B.C. Green candidate Rob Botterell has won the MLA seat in Saanich North and the Islands.
"What a great night," says Botterell. "I'm very thankful to all the volunteers in our campaign as well as the other candidates who ran a great campaign. This is what democracy is all about."
Speaking to Peninsula News Review over the phone, on his way to Delta Hotels Ocean Pointe in downtown Victoria to join the rest of his party, Botterell expressed his disappointment over Green leader Sonia Furstenau's loss.
"It's bittersweet for me, but I will be working together with Sonia and Adam Olsen, continuing the role the Green Party has played historically as a strong voice in the legislature."
The new MLA was at the Shaw Centre in Sidney with over a hundred of his supporters when the polls closed at 8 p.m. watching with great anticipation as the votes came in.
Preliminary results had Botterell with 11,858 votes (36%), followed by the B.C. NDP's Sarah Riddell with 10,540 votes (32%), B.C. Conservative candidate David Busch with 9,876 (30%) and independent Amy Haysom with 623 (1.9%).
He says he was inspired by Olsen's and Furstenau's "constituency-based" approach focusing on the party's forward-looking platform, centred on people, nature and wellness.
Asked what he'll be doing when he wakes up Sunday morning, Botterell says, "I'm going to grab a cup of coffee. And then start working."
The Green Party's Adam Olsen announced in June he would not be seeking re-election in Saanich North and the Islands. Olsen captured the riding in the 2020 provincial election with 52 per cent of the vote.
Riddell said her heart is filled with gratitude following the campaign.
"I am deeply grateful to everyone that supported my run for office – the volunteers, my campaign team and, of course, my friends and family. We worked hard and I’m so proud of what we accomplished. It was a close race, and we laid a solid foundation to build on going forward – together."
Busch thanks his campaign team for their impressive work, saying, "Coming from zero in July, with nothing, and getting this far is beyond my expectations. I couldn't be more proud of the party as we wait for the final result."
Haysom sent her congratulations to Botterell and thanked Sarah Riddell and David Busch for a strong election campaign. "I hope we all get some much-needed rest on Sunday."
The battle for control of the B.C. Legislature remains close with current results showing the NDP leading in 46 ridings, B.C. Conservatives with 45 and B.C. Green holding the lead in two seats.
