Ian Paton won the seat, but Nicholas Wong got the girl.
There wasn’t a whole lot of drama in Tuesday’s provincial election results in Delta South as Paton easily reclaimed the riding for the Liberals, but the independent candidate made a splash when he proposed to girlfriend Lindsey Gorman.
Paton, a three-term municipal councillor, jumped out to a significant lead as soon as polls started reporting on his way to a more than 4,000-vote margin over Wong, who had hoped to follow in the footsteps of former MLA Vicki Huntington and keep the riding independent.
Paton addressed more than 100 cheering supporters at the Coast Tsawwassen Inn, saying he was honoured and humbled that voters decided he was the candidate best suited to represent them in Victoria.
Initial voter turnout in Delta South was 68 per cent, the same as it was four years ago when it was the third hghest in the province.
The Liberals held Delta South for 18 years, from the time it was created in 1991 until 2009, before Huntington was victorious as an independent. Huntington was re-elected in 2013 but announced earlier this year she wouldn’t seek a third term.
He told the Optimist he was asked to run four years ago but declined, saying he needed more experience, which he got on Delta council.
“I really believe that we have a lot of Liberal-leaning people who live in Ladner and Tsawwassen. They understand that I’ve proven myself with my experience and what I’ve done in the community, the Delta Farmers’ Institute, and that I’d probably be the one best suited to represent them in Victoria,” he said. “I also think people believe it takes maturity and experience to be in politics.”
He was particularly grateful for the support of former Delta South MLA Vicki Huntington, calling it a pleasure and an honour to work alongside her throughout the campaign.
Wong wasn’t happy to see Delta South return to the Liberals and vowed to stay active.
Reid, who was watching the results with a dozen supporters at the Rose & Crown Pub in Tsawwassen, said he wasn’t too surprised the Liberals won in Delta South, adding pundits had predicted as much when Huntington stepped down.
