Port Moody-Westwood-Port Coquitlam's MP - and Canada's minister of heritage and official languages - James Moore secured his fifth mandate in May and his Conservatives swept to majority in Parliament.
Moore took 56% of the vote, slightly higher than the 54% he garnered in the last federal election in 2008, and bested first-time NDP candidate Mark Ireland, who grabbed 30% of votes cast and the largest result for his party since the riding was formed in 2003.
Indeed, the so-called "Orange Crush" led by late NDP leader Jack Layton washed across the country, including in New Westminster-Coquitlam, where former Coquitlam city councillor Fin Donnelly held on to his MP's seat for another term. Donnelly edged out Tory challenger and Port Moody city councillor Diana Dilworth with 45% of the vote over her 41%; the race was tight, with the final tally unveiled late on election night.
Meanwhile, voters were back at the polls in November for the municipal elections.
In Coquitlam, Barrie Lynch, a nine-year city councillor, ran against Mayor Richard Stewart and challenged his leadership abilities since he took the office three years ago. Stewart won handily, collecting 10,050 votes to Lynch's 7,591.
Lynch's open seat on council was earned by Craig Hodge, a former Tri-City News photographer who, with 9,424 votes, placed second behind Coun. Selina Robinson and became the highest vote-getter in Coquitlam's history for a first-time candidate.
Doug Macdonell lost his council job and that open seat went to Terry O'Neill, a former Face to Face columnist with The Tri-City News, who placed seventh with 7,566 votes. Both Hodge and O'Neill attributed their successes to weeks of door-knocking.
In Port Coquitlam, Mayor Greg Moore retained his position, easily defeating challengers William Issa and Patrick Alambets. Moore, who was recently acclaimed as the new Metro Vancouver board chair, told The News after the election that the results validated his and council's work over the last three years.
Port Moody residents replaced retiring mayor Joe Trasolini with two-term city councillor Mike Clay, and voted in three newcomers to three empty seats on council: Zoe Royer, wife of former city manager Gaetan Royer; Rick Glumac; and Rosemary Small.
They joined incumbents Diana Dilworth, Gerry Nuttall and Bob Elliott.
