A long-serving Port Coquitlam MLA will serve another term after winning reelection in decisive fashion.
The NDP’s Mike Farnworth easily walked away with the riding, defeating BC Liberal challenger Susan Chambers.
With all 89 ballot boxes counted, Farnworth had picked up 12,937 votes (55% of votes cast) to Chambers’ 7,101 (30%). Jason Hanley of the BC Green party had garnered 2,975 (13%).
Farnworth walked into his election night party at the PoCo Legion around 9:30 p.m. to loud cheers from supporters celebrating his seventh mandate.
“It’s really overwhelming to be reelected for the sixth time,” he told The Tri-City News. “It’s really an honour and a privilege to represent this community. It’s very, very special.
“We ran a strong campaign. We heard many people at the doorstep wanting to have a change in government.”
As testament to his doorknocking efforts in this campaign, he showed the bottom of his shoes — the soles were half worn away.
Farnworth, before accepting a beer from PoCo Coun. Glenn Pollock, his constuency assistant, said of the numbers province-wide, which showed gains for the NDP, “The results are very exciting. Very close.”
He was also thrilled with his own results and was on track to record the highest number of votes he’s ever earned in a provincial election.
Chambers, reached by phone, told The Tri-City News: "I am still rooting for a BC Liberal majority for the province. The race is not over. I treasure every single voter that voted for me."
She said she's not discouraged by the experience and is interested in running again. "There's a future in politics for a person like me," she said.
