Sparwood Mayor David Wilks romped to victory in the Kootenay-Columbia riding on Monday, maintaining the Conservative Party stranglehold in B.C.’s southeast corner.
“I’m very humbled,” Wilks said yesterday. “I had a good team and they did a great job. But, to be honest, I didn’t run to lose.”
The new member of Parliament said he’s been preparing for the campaign since last year.
“I made my mind up to seek the nomination on the day Jim (Abbott, former MP) announced his retirement in 2010,” he said. “I saw this as a once in a lifetime opportunity, one that if I let slip by I’d be kicking myself for the rest of my life.”
Wilks, a retired RCMP officer and newcomer to the federal scene, was named on 56 per cent of the ballots, taking a total of 23,886 votes.
NDP candidate Mark Shmigelsky, like many of his Western Canadian counterparts, couldn’t capitalize on the momentum his party gained in Quebec.
The former Invermere mayor captured 14,161 ballots for a 33 per cent share of the total.
Green Party representative Bill Green (2,532, six per cent), Liberal Betty Aitchison (1,492, 3.5 per cent) and Independent Brent Bush (643, 1.5 per cent) finished well back, sharing the remaining tenth of the votes cast.
The huge riding takes in Kimberley, Revelstoke, Fernie, Sparwood, Cran-brook, Creston and Golden, along with several First Nations reserves. For five terms it was held by Jim Abbott, first as a Reform Party candidate, then representing the Canadian Alliance and, finally, as one of the Conservative Party’s most popular MPs. Abbott announced his retirement from federal politics last year.
Prior to Abbott’s 15 years, the riding was a battleground between Progressive Conservative Stan Graham and New Democrat Sid Parker, who alternated as MP for four terms. Graham won in 1979, only to lose to Parker in 1980. Graham retook the riding in 1984, then once again lost to Parker in 1988.
“I’m looking forward to working with and for each and every constituent,” Wilks said.
He added that his nine years of experience on Sparwood town council and the Regional District of East Kootenay has given him a strong appreciation of the needs of local government and small communities.
“I want to work with every community in Kootenay-Columbia to discuss economic development opportunities and infrastructure needs,” he said. “I also plan to meet with all mayors, town councillors, regional directors and chairs once or twice each year.”
He cited the Trans-Canada Highway as a priority for attention.
“Upgrades are needed in Golden and Revelstoke,” he said. “We need to find a way to keep the highway open more. Last winter it was closed for 29 days and that’s not acceptable, especially from an economic point of view.”
Wilks flies to Ottawa on Monday for a two-day orientation session. Members of Parliament will be sworn in once Elections Canada has finalized the results. That ceremony is expected to be held within two weeks, he said.
The new member of Parliament for Kootenay-Columbia said he hopes to be able to attend the Creston Valley Blossom Festival and be part of the parade.