Easy win Other parties claim moral victories in Fundy Royal riding

A6

Tammy Scott-Wallace
Telegraph-Journal

Stumble Upon

del.icio.us

Digg

Facebook

Print

Email

Speak Up

SUSSEX - Candidates who failed to win the riding of Fundy Royal on Tuesday night say that while they didn't win the seat, there were many party victories worth celebrating.

1 of 2

Jeff Ducharme/Telegraph-Journal

Mark Wright chats with Jamie Hutchings outside a Sussex polling station. Wright was talking with voters as they exited the Lions Den where one of the polling stations was located.

Jeff Ducharme/Telegraph-Journal

Rob Moore, with his executive assistant Doug MacDonald, celebrate early returns from the Sussex Golf and Curling Club on election night. A small group of people gathered at the curling club where Moore was holding his victory celebration.

In the large riding from Quispamsis to Riverview, Conservative Rob Moore was returned to Ottawa for his third term with more than 50 per cent of the vote.

"I feel quite honoured to have been re-elected in Fundy Royal," he said calmly after being declared the winner from his victory party at the Sussex Golf and Curling Club.

"There are a lot of rural areas in Fundy Royal, and people were concerned about the future of rural areas."

Specifically, they were concerned about environmental issues, and the influence of big industry. "And the economy was a big issue in this election."

Moore said the carbon tax the Liberal party campaigned on was not popular here.

"People did not want to take the risk on the carbon tax," Moore said. "That resonated with people."

He said the Conservative party is strong in Fundy Royal and always has been, and congratulated the other candidates on an honourable campaign.

While provincially both Liberal and Conservative parties have had significant success in the same jurisdiction, there's a Blue tide that has only been turned once in more than 90 years on the federal front.

In 1993 Liberal Paul Zed had the lone victory in the riding since the Grits' win in 1917.

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the night was that NDP Rob Moir placed second in the vote of over 54,000 eligible voters.

"The very fact that we've switched so many votes is a success," the UNB economist said. "There's a lot of tradition of people in this riding voting the way their ancestors voted. We've caused people to switch, and that's exciting."

Both the Green Party and the NDP made gains in the riding where issues like uranium mining and issues surrounding water protection have been in the limelight.

Liberal candidate Mark Wright, the youngest candidate in the riding at age 28, said he is not walking away from his first attempt at federal politics discouraged.

He believes big strides were made along the campaign trail this election in renewing the energy within the Liberal party, and says while he was unable to pull out a victory, people appeared anxious for a change in Fundy Royal.

"I'm not happy with the fact that I'm third, but I have to accept, and I do, what the people of Fundy Royal say," Wright said.

"But I have always maintained from the start that we will build off of what we get here and we will come out stronger next time.

"Part of the problem, what we have done in the past is we've run candidates once," he explained. "We have to stop doing that. When someone has lost in the past it's like they have taken their marbles and walked away. I will not do that. I am committing tonight to reoffer in the next election.

"We're going to take steps right away, call an AGM, and call a nominating convention as soon as we can. Meanwhile, I will be present and I will hold Rob Moore accountable. I am not just going to disappear."

Until the next election, Wight said he plans to rebuild the party, which, without wins in many years, needs a morale boost.

The salesman will also continue in the role of town councillor for Sussex.

Green Party candidate Erik Millett, an elementary school principal, came in fourth place but was celebrating as results rolled across his television screen.

"I do know for one we exceeded our vote count from 2006, at least by a couple hundred votes, and if the numbers continue as they are, we will come close to doubling our vote in Fundy Royal. There could be a 90 to 100 per cent growth in Fundy Royal since the 2006 election.

"There seems to be a shift, and it seems to be a shift from the big parties to the smaller parties like NDP and the Greens," he added.

"It's quite a telling shift. As a candidate I am extremely pleased.

"People understood they could vote their conscience this election."