Incumbent NDP candidate Raj Chouhan kept his Burnaby-Edmonds riding in the B.C. election, but was disappointed about his party's overall performance in the polls.
The polls as of 11 p.m. last night had 7,800 votes for Chouhan, 5,987 for Liberal candidate Jeff Kuah, 1,326 votes for Green party candidate Wyatt Tessari and 172 votes for Excalibur candidate Nick D'Amico.
As every media prediction fell flat about the NDP's sweeping the polls this election and the announcement about the Liberals forming government came through, the mood grew tense inside Chouhan's campaign office.
"We have to accept the people's verdict, whatever that verdict may be. That's what democracy is all about," Chouhan told the Burnaby NOW after the announcement about the Liberals. "Of course it's a big disappointment. We were looking to form government."
Burnaby-Deer Lake NDP incumbent Kathy Corrigan joined Chouhan at his campaign office alongside many supporters - most saying they were surprised at how close the competition was.
Corrigan had a five per cent lead over her Liberal rival, Dr. Shian Gu.
Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan was also in the office to support his wife, and said Chouhan had the safest seat in Burnaby.
In a stark contrast to the NDP, the Liberals ran a negative ad campaign on NDP leader Adrian Dix and other NDP candidates, which he said might have helped their popularity rise in the end.
"The NDP have taken the high road," the mayor added. "And this shows that maybe taking the high road doesn't work."
The mayor was more optimistic at the beginning of the evening, but said he was concerned if the Liberals form government because of their "tremendous tendency towards corruption."
He pointed to the many recent scandals from the Liberals over the last few years and said they "are inclined towards doing things to the benefit of their friends - to the detriment of British Columbia."
In terms of doing things differently, Chouhan said this time around he intends to be more vocal on the issues closest to him such as seniors, housing and child poverty - but he'll continue his positive approach in Victoria.
"(We'll) make sure those issues are heard loud and clear," he said. "My representation of Burnaby-Edmonds, people like that, and I'm thankful they trust in me. I'll be a strong voice."
Chouhan also thanked Kuah, D'Amico and Tessari for running great campaigns.
Over in Vancouver celebrating with the Green party, Tessari said he was personally happy to see Chouhan take the Edmonds riding because "(Raj) is a good man."
"We're very happy with the results so far," Tessari said, noting the positive energy at his Green gathering. "We got our first MLA. It's very good news."
He said his second choice was the Liberals and he thinks the NDP lost its chance to form government because "they didn't stand up for what they really stood for." Tessari noted that he intends to run again in the next election.
D'Amico said he plans to run in the next election, as well.
"I figure I've got four years to really get a foothold in politics and by then I'll be finished college as well," he said in an email to the NOW.
Kuah was not available for comment.
