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THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2013
Proudly serving Williams Lake and the Cariboo-Chilcotin since 1930
VOL. 83. No. 40
Liberals win BARNETT LEAVES CHALLENGERS IN THE DUST majority
$1.30 inc. Tax
Ken Alexander Photo/100 Mile Free Press
Cariboo Chilcotin Liberal Donna Barnett was reelected May 14, receiving 56.44 per cent of the vote. At her campaign headquarters in 100 Mile House, Barnett said the win was a good mandate for herself and the Liberal government. Fellow Liberal candidate Coralee Oakes won in Cariboo North, receiving 41.26 per cent of the vote. As the counting sign behind her says, Barnett left her competitors eating her dust.
Christy Clark’s B.C. Liberals pulled off one of the most surprising upsets in B.C. political history Tuesday, snatching a majority government from a B.C. NDP party that had been leading the polls throughout the election campaign. Clark, despite not winning her own riding of Vancouver-Point Grey, helped garner 50 seats for her party — 43 makes up a majority — in the B.C. legislature. The NDP and leader Adrian Dix fell short of their projected results, managing 33 seats. The Green Party with Andrew Weaver, and one independent, Vicki Huntington, each won one seat. Despite a push to increase voter turnout at this year’s provincial election numbers show an overall turnout of about 52 per cent, just slightly higher than the 50 per cent who voted in 2009.
Inside the Tribune NEWS A2 Disgruntled CAO files claim. SPORTS Locals run in Vancouver.
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COMMUNITY A17 City bus ramps appreciated. Weather outlook: Expect clouds and showers until Saturday then some sunshine.
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Liberals ride ‘nail-biter’ night to a big win Monica Lamb-Yorski Tribune Staff Writer Both Liberal candidates Donna Barnett, Cariboo-Chilcotin, and Coralee Oakes, Cariboo North are excited to have won their ridings after what they said was a “nail-biter” election night. By the end of Tuesday evening preliminary results showed Barnett had received 56.44 per cent of the vote and Oakes received 41.26 per cent. Speaking from her campaign headquarters in 100 Mile House late Tuesday evening, Barnett said she and her supporters had had a great evening. “We’re very pleased. It’s a very good mandate for myself and a very good mandate for government.” Throughout the campaign Barnett said she felt good, but “not” confident. “I’ve been in many, many elections in my life and I never ever take anything for granted in an election. As you start to think you’re way
ahead of the game, you get yourself in trouble, so every day you work as hard as you can.” Barnett said she’s pleased she has Oakes on one side and Liberal Jackie Tegart on the other side in Fraser Nicola. “I’ve got Liberals on either side of me,” she added. Speaking from Quesnel Tuesday evening, Oakes said she was thrilled how it looks for people in the north. “Several years ago we talked about the ‘northern decade.’ This is just one more piece in what that northern decade will look like.” Oakes enjoyed the entire campaign, something she had not expected, she said. “We had such an amazing campaign team. Every single day we had fun and I’m so thankful. I expressed my thanks to both Duncan Barnett and Bob Simpson for running such a solid campaign and respectful campaign. It made it enjoyable for us and for the voters as well.” Oakes said she felt the numbers
Monica Lamb-Yorski photo
Paul Christianson updates the poll results at the Cariboo Arts Centre where NDP supporters waited for the final results. were really close throughout the evening. “It was back and forth all night, but the premier worked so incredibly hard and it certainly helped us
become successful,” Oakes said, adding her thanks to the voters. See CANDIDATES Page A3