MLA Doug Clovechok was re-elected to a second term on Saturday, Oct. 24, being declared the winner approximately an hour after polls had closed, without having to wait for mail-in ballots to be counted.
As of Tuesday morning, with 77 of 78 polls reporting, Clovechok has 48.6 per cent of the vote with 5.770 total votes, with NDP candidate Nicole Cherlet coming in second with 38.4 per cent and 4,551 votes and Green Party candidate Samson Boyer finishing third with 13 per cent and 1,546 votes.
“I want to thank everybody, those who volunteered for us and thanks to our constituents for giving me their trust again,” said Clovechok.
“I also want to say to the people that didn’t vote for me, I’m still your MLA like last time.
“I’m the MLA for Columbia River Revelstoke that happens to be liberal, I’m first and foremost the Columbia River Revelstoke MLA and everyone is always welcome in my office.”
Clovechok has a few priorities for Golden, saying that the Kicking Horse Canyons is going to be crucial. He says he’s going to work to keep the project on track and on schedule and that he’s working on negotiating lower canyon access.
He says he plans on continuing his discussions with MOTI and CP.
“I would really like to see something done with MOTI and lower canyon access, it’s something I’ve been trying to get done for a while,” said Clovechok.
“Once we know who the new transport minister is and everyone gets sworn in, we’ll get back to work.”
Clovechok says he would also like to see the health bus increase it’s days of operation and adding a Saturday, to help get patients from Golden to Cranbrook.
He also says he plans on continuing his work with the Water Guardians of Golden, stating that it emerged as an important issue during the election that the people of Golden want to stop GoldenKey Investments Group from building a water bottling facility under a provincial license.
While he will be an opposition MLA, Clovechok says he’s learned over the last three and a half years in that role and is ready to continue to advocate for his constituents as best he can from that role.
He says it’s important to remember that ministers are not ministers of the NDP, but ministers of the crown, who have a duty to help British Columbians as best as they can.
“I’m going to continue to advocate and push and I found we were quite successful in that in the last term,” said Clovechok.
“I’m going to do exactly what I’ve done the last three and a half years. It’s all about building and developing relationships and good working relationships.”
Clovechok will resume office and officially be sworn in once all the ballots are counted, which is expected to be by Nov. 16.