New Nelson-Creston MLA begins task for representing riding
By Nelson Daily Staff
Now that Elections BC has certified the final tally in the Nelson-Creston riding, MLA elect Brittny Anderson can roll up the sleeve to begin work for constituents in the BC Interior.
Final tally in Nelson Creston had Anderson with 7,296 votes (41.78 per cent) to 5,611 votes (32.13 per cent) for Nicole Charlwood of the BC Green Party. Tanya Finley of the BC Liberal Party finished third with 4,171 votes (23.89 per cent) with Terry Tiessen of the BC Libertarian Party fourth with 384 votes (2.20 per cent).
I want to thank the people of Nelson-Creston for putting their trust in me to be their MLA,” Anderson told The Nelson Daily Monday.
“I am greatly honoured to be elected and will work hard from Argenta to Yahk to represent our riding.”
The final tally was a lot more than the 50-vote margin Anderson, who just over two years ago was elected as a first-time councillor in Nelson as the Heritage City re-shaped its municipal government, held throughout most of the evening on Election night.
In fact, the “lead” changed hands several times early after polls closed between BC Green Party candidate Nicole Charlwood and the BC NDP’s Brittny Anderson, with Anderson edging ahead as the evening wore on.
By the time 66 of the 77 ballot boxes reported — at 1:58 a.m. Sunday. — Anderson held an advantage of 934 votes, 5,337 (39.86 per cent) to 4,443 (32.94 per cent) out of a total of 13,490 ballots counted at that point.
“I am very grateful to all the volunteers, donors, and people who got involved in this campaign; their generosity and dedication was very meaningful and helped me run a successful campaign,” Anderson said.
Green Party candidate Nicole Charlwood, who ran a very successful campaign to finish second in the riding, was quick to offer congratulations to Anderson on her win as our MLA.
“May she be successful in working towards more aggressive timelines for greenhouse gas reductions, with an eye to economic and forestry reform,” said Charlwood, pleased with the all-time high support of Greens despite the low provincial turnout of voters.
“There are other MLAs, in the NDP and across party lines, with climate and reform platforms.”
“Our hope is that they can unite to ‘bring change from within,’ that Brittny spoke of during the campaign,” Charlwood added.
Anderson applauded all three other candidates in the riding, including Charlwood, Tanya Finley and Terry Tiessen as well as youth groups that reached out for information and discussions.
“Because of all of you, we’ve built a stronger understanding of the issues that are so important to our region and our province,” Anderson said.
Anderson now begins the task of switching from municipal government, as the now former Nelson City Councillor, to provincial politics, as the new MLA for Nelson-Creston.
“As MLA I want to build upon the connections I have and develop new relationships across this amazing riding,” Anderson explained.
“I will be looking at setting up my office and scheduling meetings in our communities with leaders and stakeholders.
“It is my priority to listen to people’s needs as BC moves forward with recovery, reconciliation and a clean transition, while keeping people healthy and safe.”
