For the first time in 15 years, the Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills constituency will be represented by an MLA who is not a Tory.
Bruce Rowe of the Wildrose party won the riding by more than 3,500 votes, April 23, receiving 10,181 votes to second place PC candidate Darcy Davisí 6,633.
In third place, NDPís Kristie Krezanoski earned 565 votes, narrowly beating Liberal candidate Garth Davis by 10 votes.
An excited Rowe says he is ready to go to Edmonton.
ìWe are pretty ecstatic. My team did a wonderful job and as a result of that, here I am,î said Rowe after a speech to supporters.
Since its formation in 1997 from parts of the old ridings of Olds-Didsbury and Three Hills-Airdrie, until his retirement last year, MLA Richard Marz represented the Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills constituency.
Provincially, the Progressive Conservatives won a majority government beating out the next closest contender, the Wildrose Party. The PCs, with Alison Redford as leader, took 61 seats, Wildrose 17, Liberals five and the NDP four.
Rowe said Davis was his closest competitor.
ìTheyíre the sitting government,î he said. ìItís always tougher to beat the incumbents.î
Rowe said Davis ran an excellent campaign.
ìWe had agreed before we started this... that we would run a clean, up front campaign,î he said. ìThat has held true.î
Davis said voters in the riding switched their allegiance to the Wildrose.
ìPeople in the riding of Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills have spoken and theyíve shown theyíve voted for change as far as party goes,î said Davis.
Despite the loss, Davis was pleased with his campaign.
ìI think it went fine. We had a lot of people working really hard. I think thereís just a lot of contentious issues that people wanted to see change on,î he said.
Davis added he is happy the PCs maintained their majority.
ìI think itís great that Alison (Redford) will be the premier. I think sheíll keep the province moving into the future and I think thatís a good thing,î he said.
The Liberal candidate Garth Davis for Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills said it was ìno surprise that the Wildrose and PCs ran such a close race.î
ìMy eyes were wide open,î said Garth. ìI expected this. It makes for interesting Alberta politics.î
Garth was scrutineering at Calgary-Hawkwood at 9 p.m. on election night.
He explained his goals going into the election included making the public aware of the problems with the PCs and the risks with the Wildrose.
ìI thought I would give the voters an alternative choice,î Garth said, adding he wouldnít be running again.
ìI ran a couple of times in Innisfail, in the past,î he said. ìThe PC philosophy is still very strong. This election is going to be what I thought it would be.î
