It was an honour serving Delta.
Her voice trembling, defeated first-term Conservative incumbent Kerry-Lynne Findlay had that to say to a clearly disappointed crowd of about 100 supporters and media at the East Delta Hall Monday night.
Findlay, who was first elected in 2011 with a whopping 54 per cent of the vote in Delta-Richmond East, saw her fortunes take a drastic turn on election night as she lost by a wide margin in the race for the newly reconfigured Delta riding.
Surrounded on stage by family and friends, including Mayor Lois Jackson, Findlay said she’s proud of what her government has accomplished as well as what she’s been able to do for Delta.
“But the electorate has spoken. We have to understand that in a democracy it doesn’t always work out the way some of us think it will. But it is, in fact, an honour to be part of this great democracy, this great country of which I’m so proud,” she said.
Findlay said she had been looking forward to serving all of Delta.
Thanking her volunteers and supporters, she also said she has “a love in my heart for this community” and, if nothing else, that will be her lasting legacy.
Findlay personally called victorious Liberal candidate Carla Qualtrough as well as NDP candidate Jeremy Leveque to congratulate them on running good campaigns.
A lawyer who moved to Ladner after winning the seat four years ago, she quickly ascended through the ranks to become minister of national revenue.
Coun. Ian Paton, who was at the East Delta Hall, said Findlay had done much for the municipality, including bringing in funding and arranging important meetings between municipal and key federal officials.
Brad Cooper, president of the local electoral district association, said Findlay put Delta back on the map.
